As cases surge, Philippines ramps up vaccine drive courtesy of China

A health worker verifies a senior citizen's information prior to receiving her first dose of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine, at a covered court in Manila, Philippines, March 29, 2021. - Reuters

MANILA, The Philippines expects to ramp up its vaccination drive with the arrival Monday of the first batch of government-purchased doses as more than 10,000 fresh Covid-19 cases, a new record, were tallied and a lockdown reimposed in Manila.

President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed the arrival of the first tranche of 1 million Covid-19 doses vaccines purchased from China. A total 25 million doses was being procured by the national government from vaccine manufacturer Sinovac.