Vaccination against COVID-19 began this Thursday among senior citizens in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, which was previously delayed due to lack of vaccine supply.
According to the city health office, they are still vaccinated in the A2 category or senior citizens and there are still those who have not finished in the A1 group or health workers because there is a lack of vaccines coming from the national government.
Vaccination has already begun for seniors as the city has been given 1,500 extra doses of Sinovac vaccine.
The vaccine purchased by the local government unit (LGU) of Santa Rosa is expected to arrive in June or July.
“Dependent lang kami doon sa baba na ibinibigay ng national government and we’re still waiting for the LGU purchase,” said Dr. Soledad Rosanna Cunanan, city health officer.
The city is targeting 30,000 senior citizens to be vaccinated.
Last month, vaccinations were allowed for senior citizens, and vaccinations in the A3 category, or those with comorbidity, have also started elsewhere in the country.
88-year-old Ricardo Hemedez was one of the first seniors to inject in Santa Rosa.
“Parang kagat lang ng langgam,” said Hemedez.
Vaccination of seniors in Santa Rosa, Laguna begins
“Mahirap na, pandemic eh… Gusto ko pa humaba ang aking buhay,” he added.
The Philippines targets to vaccinate 70 million people before the end of the year to achieve herd immunity. At last record, only 2.06 million vaccines have been administered in the country.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that he expects the COVID-19 crisis in India will have an impact on the supply of Novavax vaccines.
“We expect further constrictions ng ating global supply. Nakita po natin ang COVAX bumaba ang kanilang supply. Ang India they produce more than 2 billion doses for the COVAX and sa export. And with what’s happening to India right now, malaki po epekto. Ngayong ang supply na binili natin sa India baka magkaroon ng probable delay,” Galvez admitted.
For this reason, he recommends that there be a re-prioritization of areas that will receive the vaccine in the Philippines.
He said consider the “economic and social importance” of areas such as the National Capital Region and prioritize pouring the supply of vaccines.
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