If COVID-19 vaccines are not effective, there would have been significantly more deaths, President Rodrigo R. Duterte said late Tuesday night.

This, as he reminded the public not to be choosy with the COVID-19 vaccine brands they will receive, especially vaccines developed by Chinese manufacturers.

“Do you know if these vaccines that we have been giving to the population are not really effective and right marami nang patay ngayon (there are many deaths now),” he said in a prerecorded Talk to the People.

Duterte urged the public anew to get vaccinated, stressing that achieving population protection is the only solution to the prevailing health crisis.

“Huwag kayong mamili kasi talagang ito namang lahat bakuna, okay ‘to (Don’t be choosy because all the vaccines are okay),” he added.

He also thanked the governments of Japan and the United States of America for donating around 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses each, to boost the country’s supply.

“We thank the Japanese government for their donation of close to 2 million doses of life-saving vaccines. Indeed, Japan is a friend closer than a brother ready to help in times of need,” he said.

He described the COVID-19 vaccine deliveries by the US as a demonstration of “the strength of US-Philippine alliance.”

“Our thanks go also to the United States for providing more than 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines delivered through the facility called COVAX. This is the seventh shipment of vaccines from the United States totaling approximately 18 million doses of vaccines,” he added.

Meanwhile, Duterte expressed hope that the COVID-19 vaccine donations would bring the country closer to its goal of having a “better Christmas.”

As of Oct.18, the Philippines has received more than 91.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. This is expected to reach 104 million doses by the end of October.

The country has also administered about 53 million COVID-19 vaccines, with 32 percent of the country’s adult population already fully vaccinated. (PNA)