Philippines receives 866,970 doses of Pfizer vaccine

The Philippines received a total of 866,970 doses of government-procured Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Friday night.

The fresh batch of vaccine landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 past 9 p.m.

According to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, another delivery of 866,970 doses of Pfizer vaccine will be arriving on Saturday.

Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, head of the NTF COVID-19's sub-task group on current operations, expressed gratitude to the United States government for the help and support to procure the vaccine.

He said the doses would be used for the inoculation of adolescents ages 12 to 17 in the different regions of the country.

Meanwhile, less than one percent of thousands of minors aged 12 to 17 who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 reported adverse reactions, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Friday.

The nationwide rollout started this week following the pilot vaccination for children with comorbidities in Metro Manila, which began on October 15.

The country started its vaccination program against COVID-19 on March 1.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News