By Marita Moaje / Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The third and latest delivery of the government procured Pfizer vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has brought an additional 2,927,340 doses of the brand to the country’s vaccine supply.
A total of 973,440 doses of Pfizer vaccine arrived earlier than scheduled at the NAIA Terminal 3 around 9:10 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 29) via Air Hongkong flight LD3458.
Doses of Pfizer vaccines have been delivered to the country in the last three consecutive days, from Oct. 27 to 29.
Some 976,950 Pfizer vaccine doses were delivered on Oct. 27 while on Oct. 28, the country received a total of 976,950 doses.
The latest shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines is welcomed by Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, chief of staff and spokesperson of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process; US Embassy Economic Officer Lucy Mason; National Task Force Against Covid-19 medical consultant Dr. Ma. Paz Corrales; and Department of Health Director Ariel Valencia.
Mayor said part of the vaccine supplies will be allotted for pediatric vaccination as only Pfizer and Moderna jabs have been given the emergency use authorization for minors.
The Department of Health recently confirmed that the nationwide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 12 to 17 will start on Nov. 3.
Wilben said with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for the local government units (LGUs) to speed up their vaccination programs, they can employ different strategies and innovations such as the house-to-house vaccination, especially for senior citizens and those bedridden.
“Lahat ng regions ay bibigyan na ng lahat ng bakunang dumarating considering na prepared na rin ang ating mga regions and na-train na rin sila kung pano mag handle ng mga sensitive vaccines just like Pfizer (All regions will be given the vaccines considering that we have already prepared our regions and they have also been trained how to handle even sensitive vaccines like Pfizer),” Mayor said.
The latest delivery brought the country’s total supply of the life-saving shots to 101,501,680 doses since they started arriving in February this year. (PNA) – bny
