The second round of the three-day national COVID-19 vaccination drive has pushed through in several areas whose schedules were initially postponed due to Typhoon Odette.
The continuation of the Bayanihan Bakunahan event covered Bicol, Mimaropa, several areas in the Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Region.
Some areas in Palawan, Negros Occidental, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Antique, Region 7, and some towns in Leyte have yet to resume their vaccinations due to the impact of the typhoon.
National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said they understand the situation of the affected local government units currently focusing on relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported that several COVID-19 vaccines were damaged and compromised by the typhoon, including 100 Pfizer-BioNTech vials that have exceeded their usage deadline.
The DOH said assessment is ongoing in Region 7, 8, and Caraga on vaccine wastage.
“Despite the blackouts and intermittent power supply for days, many local governments are now successful in protecting their vaccine storage facilities [by] mobilizing their vaccines to facilities with back-up generators,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Because of this, our latest report from our national vaccine operations cluster shows there has been minimal wastage of COVID-19 vaccines due to Typhoon Odette,” she added.
The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) has been considering vaccine administration in evacuation centers to those who have not yet been inoculated.
“If may enough space sila at maasikaso, puwede… We leave it up to the LGUs kung ano ang diskarte nila,” NVOC chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said.
Around 2.56 million doses of the 7 million target were administered in Dec. 15 to 18 vaccination. The government is aiming to administer around 1 to 1.5 million doses in the coming days. The full vaccination target remains at 54 million.
“We will see if we can hit it. Hindi natin aasahan na grabe ‘yung bagyo. ‘Yung mga regions pa naman na ‘yan ay malalaki, lalo na ang Region 7, but we will do as best as we can,” Dizon said. – Report from Kenneth Paciente/AG-rir
Watch the full report here:
