By Christine Fabro
Among the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, the Philippines leads the roster in terms of COVID-19 vaccines being administered daily, National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said on May 31.
The vaccine czar said the country has the highest rate of vaccines administered with 156,000 doses per day, and targets to administer 500,000 jabs per day in the third quarter and 740,000 jabs per day in the fourth quarter this year.
He also said the Philippines has a steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility, adding that the vaccine supply will be stabilized by July.
Galvez said local government units (LGUs) and business owners across the country have been ramping up their vaccination efforts, according to a press release from the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
With the help of the private sector, the vaccination rollout campaign is also being conducted in malls and hotel function rooms.
“We’ve tripled our outputs in March and April, where we vaccinated only one million in 40 days. Now . . . even before May ended, we have vaccinated three million (people),” Galvez said, adding that the Philippines had posted a one-million-per-week vaccination rate for two consecutive weeks.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte, in his public address on 31 May, appealed to LGUs to administer the vaccines quickly.
“’Yang bakuna na meron, hindi pwedeng bukas-bukasin ‘yan kasi may shelf life. Ang bakuna will expire on a certain day. Huwag mong pahirapan ‘yung tao na palinyahin ninyo,” he said.
To further expand the coverage of the vaccination program, Duterte tasked Galvez to come up with a vaccine distribution plan for areas that have been identified as “centers of gravity,” or those experiencing surges in COVID-19 cases, PNA reported.
These areas include Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas.
“I am directing Secretary Galvez to make a distribution parang pro rata, hindi naman lahat pero mabigyan ‘yong ibang starting Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Butuan, Surigao, then you go up to Leyte, Samar. Paghati-hatian natin ito,” the President said.
Galvez also reported that the country is expecting deliveries of about 10 million vaccine doses from different manufacturers this June.
Meanwhile, Duterte called on the Filpino people to get the jab at the soonest time possible, now that the country is anticipating larger vaccine deliveries.
“We urge all of you to get vaccinated with the vaccines available to us right now because we want you, your families and your communities to be safe from the virus. This is malasakit,” he said. –jlo
