More than half of the newly arrived vaccines against COVID-19 are set to be distributed in Visayas and Mindanao, which are now experiencing a surge of infections, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
According to Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire, 55 percent of the newly arrived vaccines will be given in Visayas and Mindanao.
The vaccine allocation is given to areas with high COVID-19 cases in Visayas and Mindanao, but NCR (National Capital Region) Plus 8 is still the main focus, said Vergeire.
“We had been deploying more vaccines in Visayas and Mindanao areas for these past 2 weeks at ito naman po ay naibigay talaga doon sa mga areas na matataas ang kaso,” said Vergeire.
NCR Plus 8 consists of Metro Manila (NCR), Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Rizal.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas appealed for an additional vaccine allocation this Sunday morning because only about 2 percent of the city’s 500,000 population has been vaccinated against the disease.
“If we do not have enough, then we do not give protection,” said Treñas, who also complained about the city’s lack of health workers, medicine and hospital equipment.
Visayas, Mindanao to receive 55% of newly arrived vaccines: DOH
Earlier, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that more COVID-19 vaccines will be sent to areas where COVID-19 cases are increasing in Visayas and Mindanao.
Recently, some areas outside of NCR Plus have experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases.
In Eastern Visayas, 712 additional cases of COVID-19 were recorded this Sunday, the highest number of new cases in a day since the pandemic began.
The latest OCTA Research Group report also saw an increase in cases in Valencia, Bukidnon; Cebu City; Davao City, and Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Apart from Iloilo, the intensive care unit (ICU) in Koronadal, South Cotabato, and Bacoor, Cavite are also full.
ICUs in Davao City, Tuguegarao, and Cotabato City will soon follow suit.
On the other hand, Philippine Red Cross consultant Michael Tee thinks that the COVID-19 testing may be lacking, so the number of cases is increasing in other parts of the country.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.