Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. FILE PHOTO / PCOO-OGMPA
MANILA, Philippines — Don’t use the Sinovac vaccine allotted for second dose as first shots, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. told local government units (LGUs) on Tuesday as he noted the “disparity” in the country’s inoculation program against COVID-19.
Galvez pointed out that of the 11,708,029 total doses administered, only 2,868,905 were given as second shots, while 8,839,124 already got their first dose.
“We are seeing a disparity in our national vaccination report wherein out of the 11 million jab administered, only 2.8 million were fully vaccinated. This should be addressed by our implementing units,” he said in a statement.
Out of the eight million shots given as first dose, 5,445,346 were administered during the month of June, most of which is Sinovac.
A total of six million doses of Sinovac are expected to arrive this July, which would ramp up the supply.
“With this development, we advise all LGUs who have Sinovac vaccines in their inventory to ensure that the allocation for the second dose should be used as the second dose,” Galvez said.
“Huwag po nating gamitin as first dose ang para sa second dose na Sinovac para masiguro na magkakaroon ng full protection ang ating mga kababayan na nakakuha na ng first dose,” he added.
(Do not use the Sinovac dose intended for the second dose as the first dose to ensure that our countrymen acquire full protection.)
The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) reported that more than 5.7 million doses deployed to local governments — most of which are for second doses — are yet to be administered to their constituents.
NVOC deployed a total of 14,841,740 doses nationwide out of the 17,455,470 doses that arrived in the country.
“We have to look into this matter seriously and act on it fast because based on studies, the full protection against the new variants of COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant, can only be assured when an individual is fully vaccinated with two doses,” Galvez stressed.