The Department of Health (DOH) is planning to conduct the actual COVID-19 vaccination in health facilities seven days a week in a bid to achieve herd immunity.
“Most probably kapag talagang immediate ‘yung sector at kaya naman ng facility na gagawan katulad ng mga ospital, we can do 24 hours vaccination (If it concerns immediate sector and the facility can handle it like hospitals, we can do 24 hours vaccination),” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
The Philippines aims to vaccinate 70 percent of its population which is expected to be conducted until 2023, based on the vaccine deployment plan of the government.
The DOH, however, said it will try to reach the target this year depending on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Kung darating ang supply (If the supplies arrive), we can very well finish and reach our target. Best case is end of this year or ang (the) worst case is middle of 2022. But all of these will depend on the supplies of vaccines,” Vergeire explained.
Meanwhile, the COVAX Facility has started its distribution of COVID-19 vaccines with Ghana receiving 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca on Wednesday. The initial supply is part of the two billion doses to be distributed in various countries, including the Philippines.
The country is expected to receive five to nine million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX Facility during the second quarter.
“This is not a matter of charity. It’s a matter of epidemiology. Unless we end the pandemic everywhere, we will not end it anywhere,” World Health Organization (WHO) Dir. Gen. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out.
The WHO said 80 percent of the production of vaccine worldwide has been secured by rich nations.
“Even if we have the funds, we can only deliver vaccines to poorer countries if high income countries cooperate in respecting the deals COVAX has done,” Ghebreyesus stated. – Report from Mark Fetalco
