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LOOK: Blinken leads ceremonial turnover of COVID aid to PH, pediatric vaxx drive

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="US Secretary of State Antony Blinken AFP/Pool" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/08/06/20220806-usaid-blinken-afp.jpg"/><figcaption>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks next to boxes of medical equipment marked with USAID labels during a COVID-19 assistance event outside a vaccination clinic at the Manila Zoo in Manila on August 6, 2022. <em>Andrew Harnik, AFP/Pool</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – US State Secretary Antony Blinken led the ceremonial turnover of additional coronavirus aid to the Philippines at Manila Zoo on Saturday, one of the diplomat&#x27;s stops in his official visit to the country. </p><p>Blinken joined US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna for a pediatric vaccination activity. </p><p>The country is also expected to receive COVID-19 aid from the US government, as cases continued to rise in the Philippines. </p><p>&quot;These donations from the US government equate to a massive improvement in the country&#x27;s COVID-19 response. Thank you, and the Filipinos will never forget your kindness and generosity, especially during these trying times,&quot; Vergeire said at the event.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDOHgov/posts/pfbid0YiRErw17PDuJPGs7i31xfD7HNtV4UERUTW8gA3XvUK5Y8sDfLktwto9A2vf1Dvtvl" data-width="auto"> </div><p>United States Agency for International Development led the pediatric vaccination. </p><p>Blinken arrived in Manila to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Foreign Affairs Sec. Enrique Manalo.</p><p>On Friday, the Philippines recorded 4,701 new COVID-19 cases, the highest single-day tally in nearly six months or since Feb. 7, according to the ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team.</p>

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the COVID aid 'equates to massive improvement' in the country's pandemic response.