EU commits to provide affordable, fair access to COVID vaccines for Filipinos

The European Union (EU) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring equitable access to vaccines, tests, and treatments following the arrival of the first 487,200 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in Manila, Thursday night.

“Team Europe is proud to contribute to the COVAX facility to help provide for affordable and fair access to vaccines for Filipinos,” EU Ambassador Luc Véron said in a statement.

President Duterte, along with top government officials and foreign dignitaries, welcomed the arrival of the plane carrying the 487,200 vaccine doses from the COVAX facility at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) past 7 p.m. on Thursday. The President thanked the international community for donating the country's latest supply of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines, saying the assistance to poor nations is a “plus for humanity.”

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to the donor countries. That you remembered the poor nations is in fact already a plus for humanity,” President Duterte said in his remarks.

“And in behalf of the Republic of the Philippines and of the people, and all, I’d like to say again that we felt the gratitude in our hearts and may God bless you for your benevolence. Thank you,” he said.

The first batch of the vaccines as well as the 40 million more doses to come are part of the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVAX facility allocation to which Team Europe is the biggest contributor. Véron said the Philippines will receive vaccines for 22 million Filipinos under the COVAX facility, aiming to inoculate 20 percent of the population and put an end to the acute phase of the crisis.

To date, the EU has provided P130 billion (€2.2 billion) to help 92 low and middle-income countries, including the Philippines, to help gain access to COVID-19 vaccines. “The EU has both a responsibility and interest to make vaccines available to all.”

“The European Union has maintained its goal to work in solidarity for vaccine cooperation and multilateralism – none is safe until everyone is safe,” the EU’s top diplomat in Manila stressed.

The first batch of vaccines delivered to Manila is produced by the British-Swedish company Astra Zeneca. At the onset of the pandemic, the EU has invested billions not only into vaccine research but also diagnostics, treatment, epidemiology, protective equipment, as well as modernization of health systems. It was the main contributor behind the development of the first safe and successful vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the EU.

President Duterte said he appreciates the assistance of key partners in the entire international community represented by their ambassadors during the ceremony. He said the cooperation of the international community in public health is “very much needed” while “positive engagement is very much welcome.” He added that the AstraZeneca vaccines would provide a boost to the government's vaccination program.

The list of donors of the AstraZeneca vaccines include Germany, European Union, Norway, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Austria and Greece.

The arrival of the AstraZeneca vaccines came a few days after the country received its first batch of Sinovac vaccines from China. The government has started to distribute the Sinovac vaccines to health workers in various government hospitals. The immunization of Filipinos, initially medical frontliners, will continue in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its support to the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program to protect Filipinos against the viral illness.

“(We) look forward to supporting the vaccination campaign throughout the country. Standing together in solidarity makes us stronger. Let us continue to work together in solidarity to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us,” said WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe in his speech during the ceremonial turnover of AstraZeneca vaccines at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.