By NG Seruela
The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived in the Philippines has reached 62 million, according to the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19.
In today’s (Sep. 20) Laging Handa public briefing, NTF adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said many vaccine doses ordered by the national government in 2020 have been continuously arriving in the country. He added that the vaccine supply is no longer a problem.
“Ang dami na ng vaccines na iyong in-order natin last year pa ay nagdadatingan na. Kahapon, three million ang Sinovac na dumating. So, ang total na na-land na natin sa Pilipinas ay 62 million doses. Kahapon din mayroong dumating na Moderna, almost a million, 961,000 at tonight may dadating din na Pfizer na almost a million,” he said.
However, he bared that the problem lies within the staffing in vaccination sites. Herbosa said the doctors and nurses in the sites are those who also cater to patients in hospitals.
“So, hindi na problema iyong supply ‘no. Kaya nating magbigay ng supply, ang problema po, ang ating mga doctor at nurse na nasa vaccination sites sila po din iyong mga doktor at nurse doon sa hospitals.”
“So, kapag napupuno iyong hospitals o kapag may naka-quarantine na mga hospital professionals doon ay napu-pullout sila sa vaccination site para tumao doon sa mga ospital na marami ding COVID cases,” he added.
In relation to this, Herbosa disclosed that the National Vaccine Operations Center (NVOC) coordinated with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regarding allowing the graduating medical students, nurses, even pharmacists and dentists to take part in vaccinating individuals in vaccination sites.
“So, ang ginawang pamamaraan ay kinausap ng National Vaccine Operations Cluster ang CHED, ang Commission on Higher Education at napagkaisahan na i-allow iyong mga medical students, iyong mga magtatapos nang medical students na marunong mag-inject at mga nurses, pati na yata mga pharmacists and dentists ay isasama para tumulong sa pagbabakuna sa ating mga iba’t-ibang vaccination site na bulto-bulto naman ang supply na dadating at maibibigay.”
He added that some of the vaccination sites personnel also test positive for COVID-19 and are needed to be quarantined.
“So, tao talaga ‘no, tao ang kadalasang nagiging problem. In fact, kahit na iyong sa vaccination site, iyong iba sa kanila nagpo-positive so kailangan i-quarantine. Luckily, mild naman ang nagiging sintomas nila.”
“So, hopefully, makahabol talaga tayo diyan sa mga ibang pamamaraan ng pagbabakuna para mas maraming Pilipino sa mas mabilis na panahon ang mabigyan ng full vaccination,” he said. -rir
