Japan to give 1M AstraZeneca vaccines to PH

TOKYO — Japan said on Friday that it would send 2 million additional doses of AstraZeneca to Taiwan and Vietnam and arrangements were being made to send 1 million doses each to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The direct donations, which should help Japan increase its diplomatic influence in Asia, come as wealthy nations are being pushed to provide more doses to the global vaccine sharing scheme COVAX to cover a 200-million dose shortfall.

Japan has pledged $1 billion and 30 million doses to the COVAX facility and said this month its direct shipments to Asian neighbors are being made outside of COVAX to speed up delivery.