ILOILO CITY—COVID-19 vaccine allocations for this city were all accounted for and were channeled to the city health office as well as in private and government hospitals, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas said.
In a letter addressed to City Mayor Jerry Treñas, DOH Western Visayas director Emilia Monicimpo said 63,176 Sinovac doses and 21,440 AstraZeneca doses were allocated to the city as of June 22.
Monicimpo said 66,544 (49,664 Sinovac and 16,880 AstraZeneca) doses were allocated through the city health office. Government and private hospitals received 18,072 (13,512 Sinovac and 4,560 AstraZeneca) doses.
Treñas earlier demanded an explanation from the DOH regional office on alleged discrepancies in the volume of vaccines allocated to the city.
In a letter to Monicimpo, Treñas said the number of doses received by the city health office was less than the volume reported by the DOH.
“We have only received 66,544 doses of vaccines, but DOH reported that they sent 84,224 doses. The lack of 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.
“I think it is only proper that we demand what is afforded us. We cannot shortchange the Ilonggos, who have been waiting to be vaccinated.”
A total of 535,280 doses have been distributed in Western Visayas as of June 20.
The city government on Tuesday received additional COVID-19 vaccines, including 5,850 Pfizer doses and 20,000 Sinovac doses.
The city government and various private groups, including doctors, lawyers, and business owners, have appealed from the national government for more vaccine allocations amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Iloilo, which have led to a shortage in COVID-19 hospital beds.
The number of infected persons continued to increase even after the city was placed under the modified enhanced community quarantine on May 23 and extended twice until June 30.