Photos: 'Light' after darkness as Philippines COVID-19 vaccinations begin

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Manila: The Philippines launched its Covid-19 vaccination drive on Monday, with health workers, soldiers, police and government officials first in line to get donated Chinese jabs despite concerns over their effectiveness. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A worker unloads a box of Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from a Chinese military aircraft at Villamor Air Base in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Image Credit: REUTERS

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Key aides of President Rodrigo Duterte, who were among hundreds to get jabs, described getting inoculated as a moral duty. Image Credit: AP

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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian walk away from a Chinese military aircraft carrying the first batch of Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac, the first shipment of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines to arrive in the country, at Villamor Air Base, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Image Credit: REUTERS

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In this photo provided by the Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte holds a vial containing the Sinovac vaccine from China as it arrives at the Villamor Air Base in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Feb. 28, 2021. The Philippines received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccine Sunday, among the last in Southeast Asia to secure the critical doses despite having the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and deaths in the hard-hit region. (Toto Lozano/ Malacanang Presidential Photographers Division via AP) Image Credit: AP

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The rollout started at six Manila hospitals a day after the government, under fire over delays in vaccine procurement, received 600,000 donated doses from Beijing. Image Credit: AP

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A health worker injects China’s Sinovac vaccine on a colleague during the first batch of vaccination at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon city, Philippines on Monday, March 1, 2021. The Philippines launched a vaccination campaign Monday to contain one of Southeast Asia’s worst coronavirus outbreaks but faces supply problems and public resistance, which it hopes to ease by inoculating top officials. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Image Credit: AP

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"It kindles hope that, after nearly a year in darkness, the light is back on," said presidential spokesman Harry Roque. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (R) administers the Sinovac vaccine against the Covid-19 coronanavirus disease to Eileen Aniceto, Medical Doctor of the Lung Center of the Philippines, in Quezon City on March 1, 2021. (Photo by maria Tan / AFP) Image Credit: AFP

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The Philippines has recorded more than 576,000 virus cases and 12,000 deaths, with infections at a four-month high as the vaccine rollout began. Image Credit: REUTERS

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The donated doses represent a fraction of the shots Manila has been negotiating with seven manufacturers to secure. Image Credit: REUTERS

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The bulk of the supply is not expected until later this year. Image Credit: REUTERS

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CoronaVac only obtained regulatory approval for emergency use days before the doses arrived. Image Credit: AFP

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A health worker gets vaccinated with Sinovac Biotech's Coronavac on the first day of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) inoculation drive in the Philippines, at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Quezon City, Metro Manila, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Image Credit: REUTERS

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Military medical professionals wait for the vaccination to start during the first day of vaccination drive, at the Victoriano Luna Medical Center, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David Image Credit: REUTERS

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A military medical professional prepares a syringe with the Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during the launch of the vaccination drive, at the Victoriano Luna Medical Center, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David Image Credit: REUTERS

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Photos: 'Light' after darkness as Philippines COVID-19 vaccinations begin

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