Iloilo City mayor to DOH: Explain ‘discrepancy’ in COVID-19 vaccine allocation

FILE PHOTO: Vials labeled “COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine” are placed on dry ice in this illustration taken, December 4, 2020. The picture is taken on December 4, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

ILOILO CITY — Amid continued calls for more vaccine allocations, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has demanded an explanation from the Department of Health (DOH) about an alleged discrepancy in the volume of vaccines allocated to the city.

In a letter to DOH Western Visayas director Emilia Monicimpo dated June 22, Treñas said the number of doses received by the city health office was less than the volume reported by the health agency.

“We have only received 66,544 doses of vaccines but DOH reported that they sent 84,224 doses. The lacking 17,680 (doses are) very important in protecting more lives. I am asking DOH Region 6 for an explanation (on) where these missing doses went. We are hoping that this issue will be resolved immediately as time is very important,” the mayor said in a statement.

He said the vaccines received by the city government “are all allocated for.”

In a virtual briefing on June 21, the DOH reported that the city government was allocated 84,224 doses consisting of 62,804 doses of Sinovac vaccine and 21,420 AstraZeneca vaccines.

A total of 535,280 doses have been distributed in Western Visayas as of June 20.

“I think it is only proper that we demand what is actually afforded us. We cannot shortchange the Ilonggos who have been waiting to be vaccinated,” Treñas said in his letter.

Spokespersons of the DOH in Western Visayas did not reply to requests from the INQUIRER for comment.

The city government and various private groups including doctors, lawyers, and business owners have appealed to the national government for more vaccine allocations amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Iloilo that have led to a shortage in COVID-19 hospital beds.

The number of infected persons has continued to increase even after the city was under modified enhanced community quarantine since May 23, even extended twice until June 30.