By NG Seruela and Alec Go
Aside from the expected arrival of almost 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses this month, the government also shared some of the good news in the country’s ongoing vaccination program.
Based on vaccine czar Carlito Galvez’s report on May 31, the Philippines has already breached the five million mark in terms of doses administered.
Here are other developments in the vaccine rollout:
- The Philippines has the highest tempo on vaccine administration in ASEAN
The National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 shared on June 1 that over a million doses were administered in the past week alone.
“At ang nakikita po natin gumaganda na rin po ang ating datos dahil two consecutive weeks na po na one million per week na po tayo,” Galvez told President Duterte.
“Ang Pilipinas na ay mayroon ng pinakamataas na vaccine administration throughput o ‘yong tinatawag natin na tempo. Dahil sa ASEAN po, tayo po ang pinakamataas na 150,000 per day,” he added.
The country has already administered over 5.2 million doses as of June 1. According to testing czar Vince Dizon, the country is aiming to administer 4 to 5 million this month.
- Steady supply in July
Vaccine czar and NTF Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. assured that a “steady supply” of COVID-19 vaccines from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVAX facility and GAVI will be delivered to the Philippines every month.
He said that more than 2 million vaccine doses are expected to arrive in the country every month and that the AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sinovac, and Sputnik vaccine supply will be “stabilized” by the month of July.
“So last month po nagkaroon po tayo ng 2 million na AstraZeneca at 93,000 po na Pfizer. Sa ngayon po magkakaroon din po tayo ng another 2.2 million na Pfizer at most likely magkakaroon din po tayo ng another 2 million na AstraZeneca. At sa vaccine supply will be stabilized by month of July. Ma-stabilize na po ang AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sinovac, at Sputnik.”
In an interview on April 12, Philippine Ambassador to the United States (U.S.) Jose Manuel Romualdez said that the Moderna vaccines will be acquired easily in the months of June, July, and August because the U.S. government’s requirements related to export will be completed by then.
Read more: Romualdez negotiates with Pfizer, Moderna for early arrival of vaccines
- The Philippines to get share from US
The NTF announced that the Philippines will be receiving 80 million excess vaccine doses from the U.S.
In a call, U.S. Amb. Romualdez told Sec. Galvez that the U.S. decided to share 80-M excess vaccine doses with the Philippines. It was also assured that the Philippines is “one of the top priority” for the said distribution.
Galvez affirmed that he has received a letter stating that the country will be one of the first countries to receive the excess vaccines.
“Marami rin hong country ang nagsabi na baka magbigay po sa atin and we are looking forward sa ating mga allied nations na magbibigay din po ng vaccines,” he added.
- More LGUs boost capacities
The national government has also emphasized the various local government units’ (LGUs) “scaling up” when it comes to their respective capacities in regards with the Philippines’ vaccination program.
Galvez reported that the Metro Manila mayors are almost “breaching” their targeted number everyday.
“Kami po ay natutuwa ni Secretary Vince dahil kasi talagang nakikita namin iyong tinatawag naming measurement na iyong day to last.”
“Iyong day to last, iyon ang mga tinatawag natin na iyong mga supply nila day to last five days up to twenty days,” Galvez explained.
Galvez gladly announced that the LGUs are “breaking their own records” especially in Quezon City where its record is from 8,000 individuals per day to 16,000.
“At marami po sa ating mga NCR mayors sa Mandaluyong at iba pang mga ano ang Taguig at ang iba pang mga mayors ay nagpupunyagi na nakikita po natin kayang-kayang i-break ‘yong 120,000 a month,” he assured.
- Biz sector up for more jabs
Galvez said the business sector is “ready and committed to produce additional vaccination output,” with major malls establishing vaccination sites within large malls that can administer 3,000 to 6,000 jabs a day.
Various hotels are also offering their functions rooms and additional services to intensify the current vaccination drive.
“Ganoon din po ‘yong mga big hospitals. Nagtatayo rin po sila ng mga malalaking vaccination sites,” he said.
“Iyon po ay napakagandang halimbawa na talagang tumutulong po ang ating private sector… ‘Yong kanilang mga volumes, they can produce in a year na more or less 18 million ang magiging contribution po nila,” he added.
Read more: Gov’t, private sector join forces for vax access, 50% donation eyed for NCR
- Philippines is No. 1 on IBP scorecard
Vaccine czar Galvez announced that the Philippines is “rated number one” in the Global COVID-19 International Budget Partnership (IBP) results on the Global Scorecard for Accountability over the country’s transparency.
He explained that, along with 120 countries, the IBP saw transparency in the distribution of financial assistance or “ayuda” from the Bayanihan 1 and the information dissemination of the national government to the public.
“Ito po ang report po ng DBM na nakita po na talagang ang Congress ay binibigyan natin ng report at nakita po nila na malinis talaga po ang ating pagbibigay ng mga ayuda at nakita po nila na talagang iyong mga reporting po natin sa public and, at the same time, itong mga ginagawa po nating “Talk to the People” ay nakikita po ng ibang bansa na very transparent po tayo sa ating mga ginagawa ngayon sa ating COVID-19 despite na marami pong mga fake news.”
Galvez then congratulated the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Wendell Avisado for a “job well done.”
The national government continuously improves and innovates its COVID-19 response to end the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulk deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines will soon land in the Philippines. However, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reiterated not to choose vaccines following the reports of preferring other vaccines from others.
“When you begin to be selective, the others will also begin to be agitated about the potency na pareho naman sana sa iba. They will also demand Pfizer. How about the other Filipinos from the Visayas to Mindanao? Eh hindi natin mabigyan. Hindi pwede ‘yang ganoon. There must be equality in everything,” he said as he called for equality in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine jabs.
Moreover, to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy among Filipinos, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte assured the public that all COVID-19 vaccine brands available in the Philippines are effective.
“It is high time that the people would know or must know na itong lahat ng vaccine puro effective ‘yan,” he said.
At the end of the day, the best vaccine is the one available in the country. -rir
