More COVID-19 vaccines for regions battling COVID spike
THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday assured that more COVID-19 vaccines have been allocated for regions battling a spike in infections.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said these areas were Regions 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga, and BARMM.
“We have to be sensitive to the areas experiencing a spike or a surge. So we need to redeploy. Every now and then we need to recalibrate our response,” he said.
DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the number of additional doses ranges from 5,000 to 10,000, depending on the region’s population, number of COVID-19 cases, and vaccine inventory.
“We calibrate how much we are going to give them. Let us also consider that there is still limited supply,” she said.
The Department of Health earlier flagged several areas in Visayas and Mindanao over a rising number of COVID-19 infections.
Meanwhile, testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon said several densely populated urban centers will get a bigger share of vaccines once more supplies come in.
“Given a situation where there is scarcity of vaccines… you really need to prioritize areas [in] which the vaccines are most effectively utilized.These areas, based on the strategy of focus and expand, are the densest areas in the country, highly urbanized cities. Why? Because, number one, they have the highest risk of getting infections… Also, [they make] the greatest contribution to the economy,” he said.
The Philippines has vaccinated over 6.2 million individuals as of June 20, still far from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year.
