MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is urging the national government to use the allotted second doses of COVID-19 vaccines as first dose for those who have yet to be vaccinated to cover more Filipinos in the inoculation program.
Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin, who formerly served as secretary of health, said that the currently stored vaccines supposedly for second dose of COVID-19 vaccines can be used for the first dose of those who have yet to be vaccinated. The arriving vaccines, meanwhile, will then be used for the second dose.
“Sayang yung 4 weeks na hinihintay ng bakuna. Mas magandang bakunahan muna para at least you have 600,000 people immediately covered. If not full protection, at least nakasimula ka na,” Garin told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.
“So pagdating ng second batch e kung darating naman yun ngayong buwan sa pagkakaintindi ko, ay magagamit na iyon. Parang sayang kasi na natutulog lang yung bakuna,” the lawmaker added.
The Philippines earlier received its first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines with the arrival of 600,000 doses of the vaccine made by China-based drugmaker Sinovac Biotech.
Nearly 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines developed by British-Swede drugmaker AstraZeneca also arrived in the country soon after.
Garin said the government has to ensure that other future vaccines secured in their deals with manufacturers will arrive in the country on time.
“Kung bayaran na agad ‘yan, edi sigurado na mashi-ship yan. ‘Yung bakunang in-order, ready na ‘yun eh. It has all been made awaiting shipment. Twenty-eight days is a long time,” Garin said.
“I don’t think there will be hinges unless wala pa tayong pera, pero imposible naman ‘yun,” the lawmaker added.
But what if there will be delays in the arrival of the vaccines for second dose, how will it affect those who have already received their first dose?
Garin said: “Hindi naman siya mawawalan ng bisa [‘yung first dose]. Sa immunization kasi, if the succeeding dose is delayed, example yung schedule mo ng second dose ay biglang may lagnat ka, ide-defer lang yan.”
“Although mas maganda kung papasok tayo doon sa recommendation na after 28 days,” Garin added.
Most of the COVID-19 vaccines that are already available or are soon to arrive in the Philippines require two doses. For instance, Garin said those who were inoculated with Sinovac’s vaccine are recommended to receive their second dose after 28 days.