COVID VACCINES. The Department of Health’s regional office in Western Visayas on Wednesday (April 19, 2023) said 331,405 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-10) are currently available in Western Visayas. The health department continues to campaign for the eligible population to avail of their Covid-19 shots. (File photo by Arnold Almacen)
ILOILO CITY – Over 331,405 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-10) are currently available in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Health’s regional office on Wednesday.
"Based on our inventory our total delivery to Western Visayas is 36,270 doses for the purple cap for our adults and 44,500 for the orange cap for the pedia, both Pfizer," said Dr. Jose Martin Atienza, Medical Officer and Region Immunization Program Coordinator.
Atienza said Pfizer vaccines have been delivered to the provincial health offices (PHOs) of Negros Occidental and City Health Offices (CHOs) of Iloilo and Bacolod.
For the purple cap, 10,530 doses have been delivered to Negros Occidental; 8,190 to Iloilo; 3,350 to Iloilo City and 2,340 to Bacolod City.
For the pediatrics, he said that 12,000 were shipped to Negros Occidental, 10,000 to Iloilo, 4,500 to Bacolod City and 3,000 to Iloilo City.
On Wednesday, 4,680 purple caps and 5,000 orange caps were delivered to Antique.
The province of Aklan is expected to receive 2,340 doses for adult vaccines and 3,000 for pediatrics while Capiz will have 4,680 for the purple cap and 6,000 orange cap vaccines to be delivered on Thursday.
“If ever they need more, the regional office is willing to deliver more vaccines to our PHOs and CHOs,” he added.
“We have available Sinovac, it has been readily available even in the past few months,” Atienza said.
The Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines for adults can already be used for the second booster following the release of guidelines by the DOH for the general population 18 years old and above.
DOH Memorandum Order 2023- 0146 allows the use of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca for the eligible population 18 years old and above; Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca for immunocompromised population; and Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca for pregnant and lactating women.
He added that DOH’s regional office is currently conducting an inventory of target recipients for the expanded implementation of the second booster.
The shelf life of the vaccines is 18 months from the date of manufacture as long as the storage condition was approved by health authorities. (PNA)
