556,500 more Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive in Philippines

An additional 556,500 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, which was procured by the national government, arrived in the country on Thursday night.

State media PTV reported that the shipment of the COVID-19 jabs was received at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine also appeared to have given 70% protection against hospitalization during a wave of Omicron infections in South Africa, a study revealed. 

The Philippines has currently recorded two cases of the more infectious Omicron variant from international travelers. The Department of Health also identified close contacts of these cases. 

Based on the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard, the Philippines has administered 99,139,602 doses as of December 15.

Figures also showed that 42,576,087 Filipinos received the second dose or single-dose COVID-19 vaccines.

Meanwhile, 932,197 received an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccines.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News