Around 582,500 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses procured by the private sector and local government units under the “Dose of Hope” program arrived on Friday (Aug. 20).
The vaccines were delivered through China Airlines Flight CI 701 which landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 at 9:20 a.m.
At least 80% of the vaccines were bought by LGUs, while the remaining 20% will be allocated to micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The vaccine arrival was witnessed by vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., AstraZeneca Country Pres. Lotis Ramin, A Dose of Hope project lead Josephine Romero, health officials, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Benhur Abalos.
“It will depend on sa dami ng order nila kung paano ibibigay sa kanila ito, but it will really help a lot in our vaccination right now. Lahat halos ng LGU sa Pilipinas umorder, so I just presume it would be given proportionately,” Abalos said.
As for the four million requested doses for Metro Manila for the vaccination during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Abalos said those were handed out gradually based on vaccination capacity.
“Kung ano lang ang kaya [mong ibakuna], ‘yun lang ang ibibigay… If you’re going to ask for four million, huwag kang mag-alala, mayroon at mayroon kang makukuha… Kasi nga delikado baka mapanis ‘yan,” Abalos said.
Meanwhile, Galvez said the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) has yet to issue a decision on the use of booster shots, noting that only 30% of the population have been fully vaccinated.
“There is a moral issue that wala pang nakaka-first dose sa iba… We need to wait ‘yung sizable na at least naka-50% to 70% na tayo ng vaccination… They said that they [VEP] will have a decision by October,” he said.
MECQ
The government placed the National Capital Region (NCR) to modified ECQ (MECQ) beginning Aug. 21 until the end of the month.
Galvez, who also serves as chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said the NCR MECQ will be “more stringent” as they “try to impose stringent control.”
“Kasi mahirap ‘yung pabalik-balik tayo sa ECQ, it is not sustainable… Kung susunod lang ang mga tao, and then ma-i-impose ang mga rules sa mga workplace and personal obedience natin, maganda magiging result nun,” he said.
“I’m confident that we can control ‘yung further increase exponentially ng mga cases,” he added. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio/AG-rir
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