Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 17) — Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson announced on Thursday Australia’s additional donation of ₱480.2 million to procure COVID-19 vaccines for the Philippines.
“This will make an important contribution to meeting the country’s vaccine needs in 2021,” Robinson said in a tweet.
Robinson said the new commitment is in addition to Australia’s support through the global initiative COVAX to which it has contributed AU$ 130 million.
The COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the World Health Organization. It aims to ensure all countries get fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The Philippines has so far received 5,025,870 COVID-19 vaccine doses from the COVAX facility.
Early this week, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said the country is expected to receive 44 million total doses from COVAX.
Robinson said Australia also provided AU$ 7.52 million in vaccine delivery support to the Philippines through UNICEF Philippines and WHO Philippines.
