Japan formalizes vaccine donation to the Philippines

　On June 29, 2021, the Embassy of Japan’s Chargé d'affaires ad interim NAKATA Masahiro signed and exchanged notes with Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Garcia Imperial to formalize the Government of Japan’s COVID-19 vaccine donation to the Government of the Philippines.
 
　About one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in Japan are expected to arrive in Manila tentatively on July 8. This initiative is part of the Government of Japan’s support to the ASEAN countries in this time of the pandemic and is outside of the COVAX facility.
 
　Since the onset of the health crisis, Japan has extended its utmost assistance to the Philippines comprising of the COVID-19 Crisis Response Emergency Loan (CRESL), Post-Disaster Standby Loan Phase 2 (PDSL 2), grant aid for the procurement of medical equipment and establishment of laboratory surveillance sites, and the recently announced grant for cold chain facility development in the Philippines. With the upcoming arrival of these AstraZeneca vaccines, Japan hopes that it would help make the Philippines one step closer to its goal of herd immunity.