US donates P170M to support PH’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law. Photo courtesy of the US Embassy Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has donated another P170 million ($3.5 million) to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

The US government provided the aid through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), according to the US embassy’s April 15 statement.

The latest assistance brings the total US government’s support for the Philippines’ COVID-19 response to nearly P1.3 billion ($27 million).

U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law also announced this new assistance during a visit to a vaccination site in Caloocan City with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II, and other US and Philippine officials.

“While the pandemic has tested our peoples and our economies, the strong bonds between Americans and Filipinos will help us rise above this challenge. We will continue to fight this unprecedented global health crisis together,” said Law.

The embassy said that through the new funding, USAID will support the Philippines in strengthening the vaccine supply chain, monitoring vaccine safety, and delivering effective communication campaigns to address vaccine hesitancy. It added that the assistance will also support local government units as they administer the vaccines.

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JPV