A total of 29,266 individuals have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of March 7, according to a situation report presented by Malacaῆang on Monday.
The data also show that 383,980 vaccine doses have been distributed, including 329,480 of the Sinovac vaccine and 54,500 of AstraZeneca’s. There are 186 vaccine sites operating as of the said date.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque explained anew the priority vaccine recipients are areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases such as the National Capital Region, Cebu, and Davao. However, this will only currently cover healthcare workers due to limited supply.
Sec. Roque said Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. with several members of the expert panel will fly to India on Tuesday to negotiate 40 million doses from the Serum Institute of India (SII) to secure more vaccines for the country.
Meanwhile, Sec. Roque disclosed that the inclusion of obese individuals in the priority list is currently being looked into amid reports establishing the connection between obesity and COVID-19 infection and fatality.
“So matapos po ang medical frontliners, indigent senior, all other seniors, papasok po iyong mga may comorbidities bago po ang kasundaluhan at saka economic frontliners (following the medical frontliners and senior citizens are those with comorbidities before the uniformed personnel and economic frontliners),” Sec. Roque detailed.
– Report from Mela Lesmoras
