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DOH exec: AstraZeneca doses from COVAX only for top three priority groups MANILA (Mabuhay) — The AstraZeneca doses donated by the COVAX Facility, a global vaccine-sharing initiative, is only for health workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and persons with comorbidities (A3), a health official said Wednesday. Health Undersecretar y Myrna Cabotaje said the two million AstraZeneca doses delivered over the weekend cannot be used on essential workers, the fourth priority group for vaccination. “Ang priority po ng COVAX ay A1, A2, and A3 so hindi po natin pwede ibigay sa ibang areas [The priority of COVAX is A1, A2, and A3 so we cannot give it to other areas],” she said in a Laging Handa briefing. Cabotaje added that only 6% of 7.7 million senior citizens and over 70% of 1.5 million health workers included in the vaccination master list have received a jab as of May 11. The latest AstraZeneca shipment is also set to expire in midyear, prompting the government to allot 1.5 million doses as the first shot. “Based on our experience from the past, noong pinayagan natin na lahat ito ay maging first dose [when we allowed all shots to be used as the first dose], we were able to have an
accomplishment, one-time highest, 90,000 [vaccine recipients] per day,” Cabotaje said. President Rodrigo Duterte previously approved the use of the entire first batch of donated AstraZeneca vaccines as the first dose for health workers. “So kaya natin kung may 1,000 tayong mga vaccination sites ngayon at sabihin natin mga [So we can do it if we have 1,000 vaccination sites now and let’s say we have] 100 vaccines per
day… we can produce the numbers,” Cabotaje said. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said that no AstraZeneca doses will be wasted after the Metro Manila Development Authority committed to inoculate 120,000 people in the capital region daily. The Philippines has vaccinated over 2 million people as of May 11, still far off from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million individuals this year. (MNS)
Duque: No transmission of India variant in 2 OFWs before detection
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said the COVID-19 India variant in two OFWs had not been passed on further prior to its detection, citing strict border protocols being implemented. “Our border control is very strict ... that is why we are able to quarantine them because we comply with the isolation, testing, quarantine protocols," Duque said when asked if he was sure that the India variant was not transmitted prior to detection. “It’s impossible that they had exposed others without our authorities knowing [it]," Duque pointed out. Likewise, he said he will “certainly recommend” stricter border control for passengers from countries in the Middle East, subject to the recommendations of the World Health Organization representative in the Philippines. Further, Duque said he will seek WHO’s advice on expanding the travel ban to countries where the India variant was detected. “We are able to implement an intensified border control, our quarantine and isolation protocols have been followed. We are able to detect these cases plus, of course, our heightened bio-surveillance and improved genomic sequencing,” he added.
Duque maintained that all variants are cause of concern in the Philippines. On Tuesday, the Philippines reported the detection of the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first discovered in India, following its classification as a “variant of concern” by the WHO. Earlier, the DOH reported that the India variant was detected from two overseas Filipino workers with no travel to India. They are now asymptomatic after recovering from COVID-19. Also on Tuesday, the DOH disclosed additional cases of the coronavirus variants first discovered in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) as well as the detection of the variant from India (B.1.617). Genome sequencing of 46 samples has yielded 23 new cases of B.1.351, four more B.1.1.7 cases, and two B.1.617 cases. It said the B.1.1.7 variant has already been detected in 12 regions, with 358 cases in pandemic epicenter Metro Manila and 145 cases in Calabarzon. The B.1.351 variant has also been detected in 15 regions, with Metro Manila having 602 cases and Calabarzon having 121 cases. (MNS)
Mega COVID-19 vaccination site in Nayong Pilipino pushing through, says Nograles MANILA (Mabuhay) — The proposed mega vaccination facility within the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) property will push through, w it h a memorandum of agreement to be signed "very soon," Cabinet Sec. Karlo Nograles said Thursday. The NPF earlier said the site "is not a vacant lot but has a thriving urban forest that hosts a variety of urban wildlife." In a statement, the foundation said cutting almost 500 trees and other works would "kill the existing ecosystem." Port magnate Enrique Razon, whose International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) offered to build the facility, said the property is reclaimed land and not an urban forest. Asked if the mega facility
is pushing through, Nograles said, "Yes, it is." "Just the MOA to be signed and that MOA is forthcoming, just a few minor technical edits being done. It’s already been vetted by the Department of Tourism, been vetted by the Department of Health. It’s now going through our Government Corporate Counsel. Just a few minor edits and then it will be signed very, very soon," he told ANC's Headstart. The Philippines is rolling out its vaccination against COVID-19, with at least 70 million targeted to received the jab this year. The vaccination center at the Nayong Pilipino w ill reported ly accelerate inoculation by around 10,000 individuals daily. (MNS)
Saturday-Friday | May 15 - 21, 2021
Gov’t agencies ordered to enforce health protocols in workplaces MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang has ordered the heads of all government agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, to strictly enforce and monitor compliance with all health protocols in their respective workplaces. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday signed Memorandum Circular 86, seeing the need "to monitor compliance with health protocols in the workplaces of all government agencies and instrumentalities, to mitigate and suppress the spread of Covid-19 while ensuring the continuous delivery of public services.” "Accountability for ensuring observance of such protocols shall rest jointly with such heads of agencies and the Committee," the circular read. Agencies and instrumentalities of the executive branch are enjoined to encourage the active participation of employees' associations in their respective workplaces to ensure prompt communication and wider compliance. The circular describes the temporary closure of premises as "an extreme measure", reserved for situations where the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace has become overwhelming and unmanageable. However, the head of an agency or instrumentality considering to temporarily close its main or central office shall submit to the head of the department exercising control or supervision over it, or to which it is attached, a request for clearance to shut down the premises. The request shall state the proposed duration of the measure and must be supported by verified data and other documentation. No closure shall be implemented until the clearance is obtained from the head of the department. The temporary closure of branches, and regional or field offices can be decided by the head of the concerned department, agency, or instrumentality. In the case of agencies or instrumentalities, they shall notify the head of the department exercising control or supervision over them, or to which they are attached, of the temporary closure and the measures adopted to ensure the continuous and uninterrupted delivery of public service. Agencies or instrumentalities not under the control or supervision of or attached to any department, as well as departments considering temporary closure of their main or central offices, shall submit their request for clearance to the Office of the President. Temporary closures merely to conduct disinfection of premises shall not be allowed. Instead, disinfection should be done after office hours or on weekends. Violation or failure to implement the circular shall subject the head of the agency and the responsible members of the Safety and Health Committee to administrative sanctions. The offices of the legislative and judicial branches of government, independent constitutional commissions, and bodies, and local government units are strongly urged to adopt the applicable provisions of this circular. On Tuesday, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that the B.1.617 Covid-19 variant first detected in India has reached the Philippines. (MNS)
