Over 2,700 get Covid-19 vaccine after two days of rollout–vaccine czar

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya was inoculated with China biotech firm Sinovac vaccine in Pasay City General Hospital

MANILA, Philippines — Some 2,793 individuals have already been inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine, two days after the government rolled out its vaccination program, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

“Meron na po tayo from 11 hospitals, meron na po tayong 2,793 na na-inoculate as of 19:33 (7:33 p.m.) kagabi,” Galvez said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel when asked how many people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 so far.

(From 11 hospitals, we have 2,793 inoculated as of 19:33 last night.)

Of the total vaccine recipients, Galvez said 12 people experienced “minor” adverse effects while 154 people deferred their scheduled vaccination.

“Meron po tayong 154 na deferred kasi during screening, nakita natin na may high blood (pressure), yung mga ninenerbyos at saka yung talagang di-nefer natin because of some medical conditions,” Galvez explained.

(We have 154 people who deferred because, during the screening, they either had high blood pressure, nervousness or had some medical conditions.)

The Philippines was able to launch its Covid-19 vaccination program after receiving 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines donated by the Chinese government.

Cebu City and Davao City are expected to roll out the vaccines this week at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and at the Southern Philippines Medical Center, respectively.

The government is eyeing to vaccinate all healthcare workers in March, Galvez has said.

/MUF