BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and GERARD NAVAL
DUE to the threat of tropical storm “Odette,” the holding of the second phase of the National Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Vaccination Days in 11 regions have been pushed back to next week.
Presidential adviser for COVID-19 response and National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy implementer Vince Dizon said President Duterte on Monday night approved the deferment of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan Part II in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Dizon, during the Laging Handa public briefing, said the Bayanihan, Bakunahan in these areas will be held on December 20 until 22.
In an advisory, the Department of Health (DOH) cited the threat of tropical storm Odette as reason for the postponement.
Dizon said only six regions will hold the three-day national vaccination drive beginning today (Wednesday) until Friday. These are the Cordillera Administrative Region, the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, on Monday night, said he, Dizon, NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año recommended the postponement of the mass jabbing activity in the 11 regions because they are within the storm path of Odette.
According to the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Odette is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening.
“The current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) will be hoisted for Visayas, large portions of Mindanao, and several provinces in Southern Luzon due to the threat of strong to typhoon-force winds,” said the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC).
The second phase of the National Vaccination Days seeks to provide COVID-19 vaccines to around seven million Filipinos, which Dizon and Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said will remain despite the deferred schedule in the 11 regions.
During first phase of the endeavor held last November 29 to December 1, the government administered a total of 9.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses nationwide.
Dizon expressed confidence that the government will be able to achieve its target of fully vaccinating 54 million people by the end of the year.
The government aims to fully vaccinate 77 million by the end of the first quarter of 2022 and 90 million by the end of the second quarter of next year.
MORE VAX ARRIVALS
Galvez said the country is set to receive more than 24 million vaccines against COVID-19 this week, which is a mix of government and private sector-bought vaccines and donations from the governments of France, Spain, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, China, United Kingdom, and European Union-member countries through the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility.
Galvez said the 24 million doses include the 2.3 million doses delivered on Monday night, the 8.2 million that arrived on Tuesday, the 10 million doses to be delivered on Wednesday and some 3 million more before the week ends.
He said the vaccine brands include Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Janssen.
He said that with the expected deliveries, the government can expand and push ahead with the administration of booster shots to other vulnerable sectors.
Galvez said the current vaccine inventory is good until the middle of 2022.
Nograles said Tuesday that as of December 13, the government had administered 97.2 million doses of vaccines nationwide, with 54.91 million as first dose, 37.895 million as second dose and 809, 550 doses as booster.
PEDIATRIC JABS
Galvez and Food and Drug Administration director general Eric Domingo on Monday night said the country will soon be able to administer COVID-19 jabs on children aged 5 to 11 once vaccine manufacturers successfully amend their emergency use authorization (EUA).
Domingo said Pfizer’s application for EUA amendment is now pending and they hope to come up with a decision before the year ends.
Galvez said the government is hoping to start administering the vaccines by next year.
Vergeire said the government has enough funds should the country need to buy new vaccines for the children.
She said that if the current vaccines will be used for the kids at a lower dosage, the current supply is already enough.
But should the vaccine formulation be different, Vergeire said the government has enough funds to buy the appropriate vaccine.
