The Philippines began today (May 11) the distribution of the first batch of 193,050 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), majority or 128,700 of the doses will be allocated to the National Capital Region (NCR). Cebu City and Davao City will each receive 29,250 doses, and Quirino will have 1,170 doses.
“Sa NCR ang mga pagbibigyan – ‘yung mga lungsod na may ultralow freezers. Mayroong mga lungsod sa Metro Manila na may sariling kakayanan, they were able to set up their ultralow freezers, pero mayroon ding mga local governments natin [na] they contracted third party logistics,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
Dr. Paz Corrales, Assistant Regional Director of DOH-NCR, said the American Embassy held an orientation on May 10 to 17 health officers of NCR on proper vaccine use.
Meanwhile, the DOH is now expediting its distribution of the two million AstraZeneca vaccine doses that arrived on May 10 which are expected to expire in June and July.
Based on the advisory of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operation Center, the products should be administered within six days upon delivery to vaccination sites.
Those who have received their first dose last March should also be vaccinated until May 18.
“Wala po tayong dapat ikabahala, nakagawa na po ng mekanismo ang ating vaccine cluster on how we can be able to consume these vaccine,” Vergeire assured. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
Watch this report from Mark Fetalco:
