(FILE) People flock to Marikina Sports Complex in Marikina City on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, to receive the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, as the local government aims to inoculate 13,000 people on a single day.-INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Marikina City government deferred the scheduled COVID-19 vaccination of 7,600 individuals for the second dose on Wednesday due to the limited supply of vaccines.
Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the national government earlier directed the city government to use for the first dose some of its vaccines reserved for second doses.
“Very challenging itong araw na ito para sa amin. 7,600 na tao ang hindi namin mababakunahan ngayon para sa kanilang second dose dahil talagang ubos na at walang dumarating na bakuna ngayon,” he told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(This day is very challenging for us because we will not be able to vaccinate 7,600 people for their second dose because we don’t have a vaccine supply anymore.)
Teodoro said the 7,600 individuals were supposed to receive their second shots of the China-made Sinovac Biotech vaccine.
“Binigyan kami ng advisory ng National Vaccine Operations Center na ‘yung mga nakareserba na second dose, gamitin na para sa first dose at magtira na lang ng isang linggong supply,” he said.
(We were given an advisory by the National Vaccine Operations Center to use the vaccines reserved for second dose as first jabs and to just reserve a supply good for one week.)
“Isang linggo na kaming hindi nakakapagbakuna for first dose dahil nga ang ginagamit na naming supply ay para sa second dose. Ang malungkot lang, pati ‘yung second dose ay ubos na at wala nang magamit na tayo ngayon,” he added.
(We have not been vaccinating for the first dose for a week now because we are now using vaccines reserved for the second dose. What is sad is that even our second doses have run out and we don’t have any more vaccines.)
Teodoro said the Marikina City government was informed that the latest Sinovac vaccines that arrived in the country on Wedenesday may be delivered to the city by Thursday or Friday.
He added that those earlier scheduled to be vaccinated in Marikina may get their jabs on Thursday or Friday instead.
Marikina is vaccinating an average of 10,000 individuals for the first dose and another 10,000 for the second dose per day, according to the mayor.
“Dito sa Marikina dahil marami na tayong nabakunahan. 86.8 percent na ang nafirst dose natin at more than 50 percent noon ay nasecond dose na natin,” he said.
(Here in Marikina, we have already vaccinated 86.8 percent for the first dose and more than 50 percent of them have received their second dose.)
He earlier said the city targets to vaccinate 225,000 eligible residents for herd immunity.
The city now only has 92 active cases of COVID-19, said Teodoro.
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