PRESIDENT Duterte has ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to oversee the delivery and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide to prevent mishandling and wastage.
“My problem is the handling… there has to be a time frame from handling to the transfer… I would insist that the DILG would be part of the supervisory team because I want (DILG) Secretary (Eduardo) Año to know if everything is done according to what has been planned),” he said in mixed English and Filipino, in a pre-recorded “Talk to the People” address aired yesterday.
Duterte said communications would be easier if any problem in the delivery and use of vaccines arises because the DILG is is coordination with local government units (LGUs) and oversees the police.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) and concurrent vaccine czar, said the NTF has been coordinating with the DILG and the Department of Health (DOH) in the distribution of vaccines.
Galvez and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported to the President that 3.11 million have Filipinos have been inoculated under the national vaccination program, as of May 16.
The government targets to vaccinate 50 million to 70 million by the end of the year.
The President instructed Galvez to ensure there will be “no reservation” for vaccines and people should not be choosy as to brands.
The government is using vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech, Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute, and from AstraZeneca Plc and from Pfizer BioNTech acquired through the COVAX Facility, a vaccine-sharing scheme backed by the World Health Organization.
Around 7.8 million doses of vaccines have already been delivered to the Philippines since February.
Duterte urged the rich or well-off to be the last in line for COVID vaccines because, he said, they can buy their own or have the means to protect themselves against the coronavirus.
He asked the rich not to hold a grudge against the government as he assured them they will get the vaccines “in due time.” He said it is the duty of the government to look after the poor.
Galvez said at least 4 million doses of vaccines are expected this month with 500,000 doses to be delivered by Sinovac on May 20, and 2.2 million from Pfizer under COVAX and 1.3 million from Gamaleya to be delivered by the end of May.
Galvez said the local officials should avoid a repeat of what happened in Cotabato where some vaccines were put at risk of spoiling due to a power outage. The vaccines are being evaluated to determine if those can still be used.
Galvez also said the government is looking at achieving herd immunity in Metro Manila (National Capital Region) along with Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, at least by November, if the country is unable to reach the target of 50 million to 70 million this year.
The government is pouring at least 48 percent of the vaccine supply in the NCR and eight other areas with high COVID infections.
Galvez said achieving herd immunity in these areas is possible if they administer 5,000 to 8,000 shots a day, and to 8,000 to 10,000 shots by September.
He also said that Metro Manila should have a steady supply of 3.3 million doses of vaccines per month to be able to achieve herd immunity while Metro Cebu needs a steady supply of 350,000 doses, Davao with 450,00 doses and Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal with 250,000 to 450,000 doses.
At the House, lawmakers filed a bill seeking to tap dentists and medical technologists as COVID-19 vaccinators to expedite the government’s inoculation program.
Aside from doctors and medical professionals, only pharmacists and midwives are currently allowed to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
“With the arrival of more vaccines in the country, the swift rollout of the vaccine is needed for the efficient administration and to prevent possible expiration of the doses,” said House Bill No. 9354 filed by Rep. Angelina Tan (PDP-Laban, Quezon), chair of the committee on health, along with Jose Christopher Belmonte (LP, Quezon City) and Stella Luz Quimbo (LP, Marikina City).
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno appealed to the national government to make good use of LGUs to speed up the vaccination program.
Speaking on CNN Philippines, Moreno said as a local chief executive of one of the most densely populated cities in the country, his main concern is the distribution and use of vaccines for his constituents.
“If there are vaccines in storage facilities, send it immediately to local government units so that we can use it,” he said.
He said the last time Manila received vaccine from the national government was on May 15.
Some 137,400 individuals in Manila have been given the first dose as of May 17 and about 57,000 given the second dose. — With Wendell Vigilia and Ashzel Hachero
