Duterte: National recovery 'within sight' as Philippines secures COVID-19 shots

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is "within sight" as the Philippines secures vaccine jabs against the respiratory disease that has led to nearly a year-long lockdown and economic recession.

Duterte said this in a taped message as local government units and private firms helped lock in 17 million doses so far of the COVID-19 vaccine from British drugs group AstraZeneca.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel. National recovery is within sight. As we bounce back and heal as one, I commend the business community and the LGUs for your ramping of support for our nation’s fight against COVID-19," the President said.

Duterte pledged his "full support" for the initiative that he called "bayanihan at work."

"We now have the weapon to defeat this virus – the vaccine. And let us win the war and save lives and livelihood," he said.
 
The Philippines has also secured 25 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech, and 30 million doses from the Serum Institute of India.

The country might also receive an initial vaccine batch from SU-based Pfizer and Russia's Gamaleya Institute in February, said Malacañang.

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The Philippines has trailed regional peers in securing vaccines, with which it hopes this year to inoculate 70 million people, or two-thirds of its population.

The government has also had difficulties convincing the public to use vaccines in recent years and an opinion poll last week showed less than a third of people were willing to get inoculated against the coronavirus, with concerns over safety.