BY GERARD NAVAL and JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR
FIVE months since the start of the national COVID-19 vaccination program, over nine million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated.
Based on the latest data of the Department of Health, 9,115,963 doses have been administered as second dose.
Except for the one made by Janssen, all vaccines are given in two doses.
The country has received at least 34 million doses of different vaccine brands as of end July. The government targets to vaccinate 50 million to 70 million Filipinos this year.
The DOH said some 11.8 million doses have been given as first dose, or about 20.9 doses administered as of August 1.
Broken down into priority groups, 1.99 million healthcare workers (A1) have received the first dose, and 1.57 million with their second doses. Among senior citizens (A2), 2.88 million first doses and 2.61 million second doses have been given. In the A3 category ( people with comorbidities), 3.77 million first doses and 3.32 million second doses have been administered; 2.62 million first doses and 1.29 million second doses for the A4 category (frontline workers (A4); and, 473,000 first and 304,000 second doses in the A5 category (poor population).
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the DOH is open to proposals to extend the immunization program in Metro Manila beyond priority groups A1 to A5 but said this will depend “on the number of vaccines that will be arriving.”
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at least 4.4 million doses are expected to arrive this week, including 415,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Britain, 3 million doses of Moderna vaccines donated by the US, 1 million doses of procured Sinovac vaccines.
The National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 said the total doses administered in the 22nd week of the national vaccination reached 3,661,123 doses.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. reiterated Metro Manila mayors are prepared to continue the vaccination program even while the two week enhanced community quarantine is in effect from August 6 to 20.
Abalos also said it would be difficult to implement a house-to-house vaccination drive because of limited personnel, adding that in case of a surge in COVID-19 cases, especially the Delta variant, medical personnel would need to concentrate on hospitals.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno asked medical frontliners to volunteer for 24/7 COVID-19 vaccination centers that he said the city government will operate during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20.
During the ECQ, Metro Manila will be under an eight-hour curfew — 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Moreno said the vaccination during nighttime will not be covered by the curfew during the ECQ period.
“Excuse po ang bakunahan, tuloy po ang bakunahan at hindi titigil kahit ECQ (The vaccination program is not covered by the curfew. It will go on even during the ECQ period),” he said.
Moreno said the volunteers would take the place of the medical frontliners now deployed in 22 vaccination sites in the city during the day time.
The Manila Public Information Office said those interested may contact the following numbers 09951069524 and 09606040771.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he is in favor of a 24/7 vaccination of people in the National Capital Region as a defense against the possible spread of Delta variant of COVID-19.
“We have to ramp this up, this is our defense, Delta variant is really different compared with other variants that we confronted and managed,” he said.
Año also said additional policemen have been assigned to vaccination sites to ensure vaccinations are are in order. — With Ashzel Hachero and Victor Reyes
