Davao City
August 20, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomed the arrival of one (1) million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccines donated by the People’s Republic of China.

“We are receiving these life-saving vaccines with much gratitude and high hopes as we continue our fight against COVID-19 and its variants,” President Duterte said via video teleconference, citing that China’s numerous assistance in the past were instrumental in the country’s response against the pandemic.

“These initiatives are indeed a testament of the goodwill of the Chinese Government and the deep strong relations between the Philippines and China,” the President added. He also expressed gratitude towards agencies involved in securing a steady supply of vaccines and to the frontliners for their heroic sacrifices amid challenging times.

The Philippines first received Sinopharm jabs when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made a donation of 100,000 doses on 11 August 2021, making it the 7 th vaccine brand to be administered in the country.

The Philippines has already received around 42 million vaccine doses since the arrival of the first shipment in February. For the month of August alone, the country is expected to receive around 22.7 million doses of vaccines both from donations and government procurements.

“As President, I assure you that we are exerting all efforts and will continue to use all available resources to end this pandemic. Join us in our collaborative action in beating this pandemic through vaccination and the strict observance of health protocols,” President Duterte ended.

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