DOH refutes gov’t analyst’s data on missed 2nd dose

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THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said only about 113,000 vaccinees missed their second COVID-19 shots, and not over 1 million as earlier reported.

In a statement, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said actual numbers sourced from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center “show that 9 percent of people have deferred their second dose, roughly 113,000 individuals.”

On Wednesday, Dr John Wong, data analyst of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), said 1,078,902 individuals missed their second shot, or about 50 percent of the 2,125,788 second doses expected to have been administered as of May 29.

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It must be noted that the presentation of Wong was done during the virtual DOH town hall session on COVID-19 Vaccine, where Vergeire was also present.

In her statement yesterday, Vergeire said the previous numbers were sourced from independent assessments of health experts and may differ from actual numbers on the ground.

“What was presented was part of an independent assessment of the vaccine prioritization of the national COVID-19 vaccination program,” she said.

“The reported missed schedules for second dose are estimates and based on certain assumptions,” she added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said what is important is for vaccinees to complete their second dose.

“We remind the public to complete the required doses for full protection against COVID-19, not only for themselves but also their loved ones,” he said.

“For our kababayans, who missed their scheduled second dose, don’t worry as you can still get your second doses,” added Duque.

President Duterte, on Wednesday, reiterated his call for universal access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines as he emphasized the need to correct a “glaring imbalance” in the global vaccine distribution.

The President, during the virtual GAVI COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) One World Protected Summit, noted that more than 80 percent of the global supply goes to the developed countries.

“This imbalance must be corrected, or there will be no real and inclusive global recovery to speak of,” Duterte said.

He also urged countries to contribute to the COVAX Facility which is instrumental in distributing the much-needed vaccines to developing countries.

The Philippines has committed to donate $1 million. It is among the 92 countries that have received — and expected to continue to receive — vaccines from COVAX.

“It is our moral responsibility to help each other and face this crisis with greater solidarity and urgency. While modest, our contribution demonstrates our firm commitment to this global fight against COVID-19,” Duterte said.

Duterte also thanked the GAVI, a vaccine alliance of public and private organizations, and encouraged more countries to contribute to its cause.

Malacañang, in a statement, said the event that was co-hosted by Japan Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and GAVI board chairman Jose Manuel Barroso aims to fill the 1.7-billion gap of the COVAX initiative to provide COVID-19 doses for lower-income countries.

The Philippines has received at least 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and 193,050 doses of Pfizer vaccines through the COVAX program.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. previously said the country expects 2.2 million doses of Pfizer vaccine and 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, also both under COVAX, this month.

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Galvez also said the country expects at least 2 million doses, under COVAX, every month thereafter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday night, promised to have more Sputnik V vaccines from Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute delivered to the Philippines to boost the country’s anti-COVID-19 vaccination program.

In a statement, Malacañang said that Putin, during a “tele-summit” with President Duterte and several of his Cabinet men, also renewed Russia’s commitment to import more agricultural products from the Philippines as well as support transportation infrastructure projects, help the country build its renewable energy facilities, and increase its military equipment.

President Duterte and Putin also renewed the two countries’ commitment to further enhance ties as they celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Russia.

The President thanked President Putin for making Sputnik V available to the Philippines while reiterating the importance of the expeditious delivery of ordered vaccines.

The Philippines has so far received 80,000 doses of Sputnik V. The country bought 20 million doses from Russia.

The country is aiming to vaccinate 50 million to 70 million Filipinos by the end of the year.

The Philippines has a population of about 110 million.

Science Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra yesterday said the department is planning to start next month clinical trials on mixing different COVID vaccine brands.

Guevarra, during the “Laging Handa” public briefing, said the DOST will use five brands — Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Sputnik V and Moderna. Four of the five bands are already available in the country and being administered by the government. Moderna is expected to start delivering its vaccines this month.

The DOST mix and match trial will involve 3,000 participants aged 18 and older, and belonging to the vaccination priority groups A1 to A4. — With Jocelyn Montemayor

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