The Philippines has administered its 100 millionth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) reported Monday.
Meanwhile, most areas hit by the destructive Typhoon Odette would resume their participation in the second round of the government’s COVID-19 mass vaccination today.
However, at least 100 vials of Pfizer vaccines in Iloilo were wasted due to power interruption as Odette pummeled Visayas and Mindanao over the weekend, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.
Part of the ongoing government response to areas hit by tropical cyclone is the department and the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) assessing the condition of vaccines and the storage facilities in areas with reported power outages.
As of December 16, the country has administered a total of 100,019,137, with over 43 million individuals or 55.78 percent of the target population fully vaccinated.
“This gargantuan milestone is a huge turnaround from the scarcity of vaccine supplies we have once faced at the beginning of our vaccination program. This sparks hope that we can continue to march forward in this pandemic,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“We owe this to the people who have endeavored together to bring these vaccines to even the farthest barangays – from the Vaccine Cluster to the healthcare and local government unit workers, and volunteers – all selflessly working towards protecting more Filipinos from COVID-19,” he added.
“With the commencement of the second round of Bayanihan Bakunahan, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to get fully-vaccinated. Sa Bayanihan Bakunahan, bayani ang bawat Pilipino,” said vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.
“Let us work together until everyone is safe. Meanwhile, the National Vaccine Operations Center will continue to ensure that we have enough vaccine supply and administer it,” he added.
The DOH and the NTF reassured the public that all approved COVID-19 vaccines in the country are safe and effective. The agencies also called on those yet to receive their primary dose to get fully vaccinated and encouraged those eligible for additional doses to get their additional or booster dose.
In Iloilo, the vaccine wastage was reported in Bingawan town, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.
Metro Manila, the Cordilleras, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and Soccsksargen did not report any vaccine wastage, Vergeire said.
The assessment of vaccine wastage for Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga is still ongoing, Vergeire added.
“The NVOC shall replenish stocks of Region 6 (Western Visayas) in the future,” Vergeire said.
The center has issued advisory no. 49, mandating all regional and local vaccination centers to “closely monitor the temperature of our cold chain storage of our vaccines and ensure that the temperature is maintained within the recommended temp range for areas with power outages and are utilizing only backup power sources,” she added.
Public health standards such as physical distancing, hand hygiene, wearing of face masks, proper ventilation must be observed in evacuation centers, Vergeire reiterated.
Meantime, no vaccines were wasted after a vehicle transporting 1,960 vials of Sinovac and 248 Moderna jabs met an accident at Lakawan Bridge, Tayabas City, Vergeire said.
“Both of these vaccines were stored and the temperature was maintained at +2 to +8 degrees Celsius, 93 vials of these Moderna vaccines are now stored in General Nakar,” Vergeire said.
