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

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.

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

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

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

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)

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.

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)

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

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)

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.

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

The bulk of the supply is not expected until later this year.

CoronaVac only obtained regulatory approval for emergency use days before the doses arrived.

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

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

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