FIRST DOSE. A man gets his first dose of Sinovac vaccine in Taguig City. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer said the Philippines is now the leader among five of the biggest Asean countries in terms of vaccine throughput per capita with an average daily vaccination rate of 150,000 jabs. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – The Philippines is now the leader among five of the biggest Asean countries in terms of vaccine throughput per capita with an average daily vaccination rate of 150,000 jabs.
This was reported by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People program on Monday.
“Ibig sabihin po ng throughput, tayo na po ang malakas mag-inject every day (Throughput means we have been strong in terms of administering vaccines every day),” Galvez said.
He said the country has breached the five million mark in terms of Covid-19 vaccines administered as of May 28.
“Gumaganda na rin po ang ating datos dahil two consecutive weeks na po na one million per week na po tayo (sa vaccination). So maganda po ang ating naging pagbabakuna noong nakaraang dalawang linggo (Our data is getting better because for two consecutive weeks now, we have been administering one million vaccines per week. Our vaccination is good in the past two weeks),” Galvez said.
LGUs, businesses stepping up
He said local government units (LGUs) and business owners across the country have been ramping up their vaccination efforts.
Quezon City, for example, has surpassed its previous record of 8,000 jabs a day, and has now reached 16,000 to 19,000 inoculations a day, Galvez said.
“Ang mga mayors ay nagpupunyagi na nakikita po natin na kayang-kaya i-break ‘yung 120,000 (jabs) a month (We can see that the LGUs can break the 120,000 jabs a month),” he added.
Large business establishments, such as malls, have converted their areas into vaccination sites and have given LGUs more space to conduct inoculations there.
“Ginagamit na po ang mga malls – Ayala Malls, SM Malls, Robinsons, at saka po 'yong atin pong mga different hotels, mga function rooms ay ginagamit na rin po nila. Iyon po ay napakagandang halimbawa na talagang tumutulong po ang ating private sector (They are using malls and the function rooms of different hotels. That's one of the best examples of how the private sector is helping),” Galvez said.
Equitable distribution
To further expand the coverage of the vaccination program, Duterte has tasked Galvez to come up with a vaccine distribution plan for areas that have been identified as “centers of gravity,” or those experiencing surges in Covid-19 cases.
These areas include Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas.
“I am directing Secretary Galvez to make a distribution parang pro rata, hindi naman lahat pero mabigyan ‘yong ibang (not all, but the others should receive) starting Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Butuan, Surigao, then you go up to Leyte, Samar. Paghati-hatian natin ito (This should be divided). The bulk of the people of the NCR mayroon na ho silang bakuna (they have been vaccinated). Kung magdating ‘yong sunod na marami (when the other vaccines arrive), you divide it amongst the local government units. Sana magawa ito sa madaling panahon (I hope this gets done soon),” the President said.
“Alam mo, wala naman tayong sobra-sobrang bakuna pero (We don't have excess vaccines but) they are coming in bulk now. And as a matter of fact, we have I think almost a million plus ready for vaccination of (the) people.”
Galvez reported that the country is expecting deliveries of about 10 million vaccine doses from different manufacturers this June.
Meanwhile, Duterte called on the Filpino people to get the jab at the soonest time possible, with the steady arrival of larger vaccine deliveries.
“We urge all of you to get vaccinated with the vaccines available to us right now because we want you, your families and your communities to be safe from the virus. This is malasakit (concern for others),” he said. (PR)
