Mexico received a shipment of a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech Ltd, the foreign ministry said in a tweet on Saturday that also expressed gratitude to China. 

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said earlier in the week that Mexico was upping its orders from China to make up for a vaccine shortfall and would request 22 million more doses.

Mexico doubled its initial order of  10 million doses from Sinovac that was due to arrive between March and May. 

The latest order is due between May and July, Ebrard said.

Mexico will also order 12 million doses of the vaccine made by the China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) once it has been approved by the Mexican health regulator, he said.