An elderly resident of Olongapo City gets inoculated against COVID-19 (Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Information Office)
MANILA, Philippines — The government has lowered its target output for the three-day national COVID-19 vaccination drive scheduled on November 29 to December 1 to just nine million jabs.
In a statement released Saturday, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF COVID-19) and the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said that the initial target of 15 million doses administered during the 3-day drive dubbed “Bayanihan Bakunahan” has been adjusted tonine million doses or three million doses administered per day.
To achieve the goal of immunizing 54 million Filipinos against COVID-19 by yearend, the NTF COVID-19 and the NVOC announced that the government will hold another three-day national vaccination day on December 15 to 17.
The NTF and NVOC attributed the change in target output due to a shortage in ancillary supplies and other logistical hurdles.
“As we are finalizing the preparations for this massive movement across the 16 regions outside Metro Manila, there is currently a shortage in ancillary supplies, particularly syringes for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and other logistical challenges,” the NTF and NVOC said.
“While the Department of Health has already anticipated the volume requirement for syringes specifically intended for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, the scheduled shipment of the procured supplies made through UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) have been delayed due to the current global shortage,” they added.
According to the NTF COVID-19 and NVOC, “sufficient ancillary supplies for each vaccine brands is essential” during the three-day immunization drive as several of those who will be inoculated will include minors aged 12 to 17.
Citing the Food and Drug Administration, the NTF and NVOC said that only Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be used for minors.
These COVID-19 vaccine brands are also used as booster shots or additional doses for health workers, senior citizens, and immunocompromised individuals.