(SunStar) THE Philippines on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, received another shipment of Moderna mRNA vaccines donated by the United States through the Covax Facility.

The 3,000,060 doses that arrived Tuesday make up the second tranche of donation from the US, which earlier sent 3,240,850 doses of the single-dose Janssen viral vector vaccine.

With this new shipment, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines has received 6,240,910 doses of vaccine from the US through Covax.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech during the arrival ceremony, said the government will try to entice those who do not want to be vaccinated with the vaccines given by the US.

He said the “cooperation between the Philippines and the US in overcoming the pandemic highlights the deep friendship between the two countries.”

“Now, ensuring that these vaccines are brought to our people safely is a tedious and difficult process,” he said.

Duterte said the government will comply with the US government’s sentiment that the vaccines it donated go first to the poor.

“Rest assured, everybody will follow that directive. Let us beat Covid together,” he said.