QC stops giving first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, too, due to supply shortage

FILE PHOTO: A nun is being inoculated at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish church in Diliman, Quezon City, which was turned into a COVID-19 vaccination center on Friday, May 21, 2021.  INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City is the latest among local government units (LGUs) that have halted the administration of the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines due to supply shortage.

The city government said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page that the vaccine doses they have now were already reserved for the second doses of its constituents.

It added that Quezon City awaits the next batch of anti-coronavirus vaccines from the national government.

“Nais naming ipaalam sa lahat na ubos na ang supply ng FIRST DOSE vaccines sa ating lungsod at tanging ang mga naka-schedule para sa SECOND DOSE na lamang ang natitira at gagamitin sa mga susunod na linggo,” the Quezon City government said Wednesday.

(We want to inform everyone that the city’s supply of first dose vaccines is already used up, and only those scheduled for the second dose are available and would be used in the coming weeks.)

“Sa kasalukuyan, hinihintay ng lokal na pamahalaan ang bagong batch ng mga bakuna mula sa national government,” it added.

(Currently, the local government is awaiting the new batch of vaccines from the national government.)

The LGU then reminded those who are set to receive their second COVID-19 vaccine dose to visit the vaccination sites on the day stated on their vaccination cards.

“Para sa mga naka-schedule na magpabakuna ng kanilang SECOND DOSE, pumunta lamang sa vaccine site sa araw na nakalagay sa inyong vaccination card. Pinapaalala rin namin na ingatan at itago ninyo ang inyong VACCINATION CARD na inyong patunay na kayo ay nabakunahan,” the Quezon City LGU noted.

(For those scheduled to have their second dose, they should go to the vaccination site on the day indicated on their vaccination card.  We are also reminding people to store properly and take care of their vaccination card which is proof that you were vaccinated.)

On Tuesday, several cities in the National Capital Region like Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Malabon, Valenzuela, Makati, and Caloocan have announced on their respective Facebook pages and other channels that first dose vaccinations are suspended due to lack of supply.

READ: Some LGUs in NCR halt 1st dose vaccination due to depleting supply

Last July 2, National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon appealed for understanding and patience from local officials as the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines meant that not all requests for increased supply could be granted.

Then, during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Tuesday briefing which was aired past Wednesday midnight, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. apologized for the thin vaccine supply.

He, however, reasoned out that the first and last weeks of a month are usually “lean weeks” as these are times when vaccine manufacturers prepare for the delivery or deployment of the jabs.

READ: COVID-19 vaccine supply issues hampering delivery to LGUs — NTF

READ: Galvez apologizes for delay in replenishing COVID-19 vaccine supply

The government is banking on COVID-19 vaccines to usher in herd immunity before the year ends, in an effort to kickstart the ailing economy. As of Monday, government officials said that over 11 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been administered across the country, although no breakdown has been given yet.

READ: NTF: PH administers 11 million vaccine doses; 1 million doses given in last 4 days

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s presentation during a briefing earlier Wednesday revealed that 2.8 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The government targets the vaccination of at least 70 percent of the country’s population in order to attain herd immunity, which officials said may be reached before the year ends.

The Philippines’ total population has surpassed 109 million as of May 1, 2020, according to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 1179, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s census.

KGA