AstraZeneca doses from COVAX only for top three priority groups

DOH exec: AstraZeneca doses from Gov’t agencies ordered to enforce health protocols

COVAX only for top three priority groups MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang in workplaces has ordered the heads of all governMANILA (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. ment 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 Me-

Health Undersecretary Myrna dialdea on Tuesday signed MemCabotaje said the two million As- orandum Circular 86, seeing the traZeneca doses delivered over the need "to monitor compliance with weekend cannot be used on essential health protocols in the workplacworkers, the fourth priority group for es of all government agencies and vaccination. instrumentalities, to mitigate and

“Ang priority po ng COVAX ay A1, suppress the spread of Covid-19 A2, and A3 so hindi po natin pwede while ensuring the continuous ibigay sa ibang areas [The priority of delivery of public services.” COVAX is A1, A2, and A3 so we cannot "Accountability for ensuring obgive it to other areas],” she said in a servance of such protocols shall rest Laging Handa briefing. jointly with such heads of agencies

Cabotaje added that only 6% of 7.7 and the Committee," the circular million senior citizens and over 70% accomplishment, one-time highest, day… we can produce the numbers,” read. 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 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 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 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 sitlahat ito ay maging first dose [when sabihin natin mga [So we can do it if off from the government’s target of uations where the spread of Covwe allowed all shots to be used as the we have 1,000 vaccination sites now inoculating 50 million to 70 million id-19 in the workplace has become first dose], we were able to have an and let’s say we have] 100 vaccines per individuals this year. (MNS) overwhelming and unmanageable. However, the head of an agen-

Duque: No transmission of India cy or instrumentality considering to temporarily close its main or central office shall submit to the variant in 2 OFWs before detection head of the department exercising control or supervision over it, or to which it is attached, a request for

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque Duque maintained that all variants are cause of concern clearance to shut down the prem-

III on Wednesday said the COVID-19 India variant in two in the Philippines. ises.

OFWs had not been passed on further prior to its detection, On Tuesday, the Philippines reported the detection of The request shall state the prociting strict border protocols being implemented. the B.1.617 coronavirus variant first discovered in India, posed duration of the measure and

“Our border control is very strict ... that is why we are following its classification as a “variant of concern” by must be supported by verified data able to quarantine them because we comply with the iso- the WHO. and other documentation. lation, testing, quarantine protocols," Duque said when Earlier, the DOH reported that the India variant was No closure shall be implemented asked if he was sure that the India variant was not trans- detected from two overseas Filipino workers with no travel until the clearance is obtained from mitted prior to detection. to India. They are now asymptomatic after recovering the head of the department.

“It’s impossible that they had exposed others without from COVID-19. The temporary closure of branchour authorities knowing [it]," Duque pointed out. Also on Tuesday, the DOH disclosed additional cases es, and regional or field offices can

Likewise, he said he will “certainly recommend” stricter of the coronavirus variants first discovered in the United be decided by the head of the conborder control for passengers from countries in the Middle Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and South Africa (B.1.351) as well as the cerned department, agency, or in-

East, subject to the recommendations of the World Health detection of the variant from India (B.1.617). strumentality.

Organization representative in the Philippines. Genome sequencing of 46 samples has yielded 23 new In the case of agencies or instru-

Further, Duque said he will seek WHO’s advice on ex- cases of B.1.351, four more B.1.1.7 cases, and two B.1.617 mentalities, they shall notify the panding the travel ban to countries where the India variant cases. head of the department exercising was detected. It said the B.1.1.7 variant has already been detected in control or supervision over them, or

“We are able to implement an intensified border con- 12 regions, with 358 cases in pandemic epicenter Metro to which they are attached, of the trol, our quarantine and isolation protocols have been Manila and 145 cases in Calabarzon. temporary closure and the measfollowed. We are able to detect these cases plus, of course, The B.1.351 variant has also been detected in 15 regions, ures adopted to ensure the continour heightened bio-surveillance and improved genomic with Metro Manila having 602 cases and Calabarzon hav- uous and uninterrupted delivery of sequencing,” he added. ing 121 cases. (MNS) public service. Agencies or instrumentalities not Mega COVID-19 vaccination site in under the control or supervision of or attached to any department, as well as departments considering Nayong Pilipino pushing through, says Nograles temporary closure of their main or central offices, shall submit their request for clearance to the Office MANILA (Mabuhay) — The is pushing through, Nograles of the President. proposed mega vaccination said, "Yes, it is." Temporary closures merely to facility within the Nayong "Just the MOA to be signed conduct disinfection of premises Pilipino Foundation (NPF) and that MOA is forthcom- shall not be allowed. property will push through, ing, just a few minor tech- Instead, disinfection should be with a memorandum of nical edits being done. It’s done after office hours or on weekagreement to be signed "very already been vetted by the ends. soon," Cabinet Sec. Karlo Department of Tourism, Violation or failure to implement Nograles said Thursday. been vetted by the Depart- the circular shall subject the head The NPF earlier said the ment of Health. It’s now of the agency and the responsible site "is not a vacant lot but going through our Govern- members of the Safety and Health has a thriving urban forest ment Corporate Counsel. Committee to administrative sancthat hosts a variety of urban Just a few minor edits and tions. wildlife." In a statement, the then it will be signed very, The offices of the legislative and foundation said cutting al- very soon," he told ANC's judicial branches of government, most 500 trees and other Headstart. independent constitutional comworks would "kill the exist- The Philippines is rolling missions, and bodies, and local goving ecosystem." out its vaccination against ernment units are strongly urged to Port magnate Enrique COVID-19, with at least 70 adopt the applicable provisions of Razon, whose International million targeted to received this circular. Container Terminal Services the jab this year. The vacci- On Tuesday, the Department Inc (ICTSI) offered to build nation center at the Nayong of Health (DOH) confirmed that the facility, said the property Pilipino will reportedly the B.1.617 Covid-19 variant first is reclaimed land and not an accelerate inoculation by detected in India has reached the urban forest. around 10,000 individuals Philippines. (MNS) Asked if the mega facility daily. (MNS)

Galvez: 2.2M more Pfi zer COVID-19 vaccine doses arriving before end of May

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines will receive an additional 2.2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX facility this month, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.

“‘Yung next na delivery ng ating Pfizer (Our next Pfizer delivery), more or less 2.2 million [doses], I was informed yesterday is before the end of the month,” he said during a symbolic vaccination ceremony at the Makati Medical Center.

Galvez added that authorities are now conducting a rehearsal for the transport of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.

“Meron kaming arrangement with UNICEF na diretso na kaagad sa Davao, diretso na kaagad sa Cebu, diretso na sa mga areas na paglalagakan natin ng Pfizer para wala po tayong double handling,” he said.

“‘Wag po kayong mag-alala, since February pa kami nagre-rehearse dito sa Pfizer (Don’t worry, we’ve been rehearsing since February) and we don’t see any problem.”

The government held a simulation exercise in February in preparation for

DOH coordinates with MMDA to ensure use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses before expiry date

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday assured the public that there will be no wastage of the newly-arrived 2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine which are set to expire in June and July.

Duque made the statement after the National COVID-19 Vaccine Operations Center said that 1.5 million AstraZeneca doses will expire on June 30 and 525,000 doses will perish on July 31.

“We will make sure nothing will expire. It will all be jabbed, it will all be used for inoculating our A1 to complete the health care workers, the A2 for the senior citizens, and the adults with comorbidities,” he said.

Duque also exalso explained that 525,600 of the 2 million AstraZeneca jabs will be used as a second dose for those who already got their first shots. The remaining vaccine will be used as first doses.

To make sure that these will be used before its expiration, Duque said they already coordinated with Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos to achieve the 120,000 inoculation per day in the National Capital Region.

“In NCR, si Chairman Abalos has already committed we will put the lion the lion share share of the [AstratraZeneca] at the epicenter in the NCR. They committed 120,000 vaccinees. So in 10 days mauubos mo. (You will use all of it.) That is before the expiry date,” Duque said.

“So we are mindful of the expiration, you know this is gold. We cannot afford dilly-dallying in terms of implementing our vaccine program or plan so we are aggressively pursuing this,” he said.

Last Saturday, 2 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX Facility has arrived in the Philippines.

The Philippines earlier received 525,600 AstraZeneca vaccine doses from COVAX Facility, a World Health Organization-backed initiative that seeks to ensure equitable access to vaccines, especially poorer nations.

So far, the government is inoculating ment is inoculating the healthcare workers, the senior citizens, and adults zens, and adults with comorwith comorbidities. bidities. (MNS) the arrival of Pfizer-BioNTech doses that was later delayed.

The long-awaited delivery, composed of 193,000 doses, arrived in the country on Monday night.

Over 2 million individuals in the Philippines have received the Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Pfizer-BioNTech jabs as of May 11, still far from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year. (MNS)

9 high-risk areas priorities under ‘center of gravity’ plan

MANILA (Mabuhay) — High-risk areas will be under the “Focus and Expand–Center of Gravity” vaccination strategy in a bid to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, said the center of gravity refers to economic centers that are most exposed to Covid-19 transmission. "Ang maganda po talaga magkaroon po tayo ng strategy na tinatawag nating focus and expand through center of gravity. Iyong center of gravity po, ito po ‘yong tinatawag natin na economic centers. At the same time, ito po ‘yung mga vulnerable areas (The good thing is that we have a strategy called focus and expand through the center of gravity. The center of gravity will be the centers and the vulnerable areas)," Galvez reported in the Cabinet meeting Monday night in Matina, Davao City.

The government will focus its vaccination program on nine high-risk areas – National Capital Region (NCR) Plus (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal), Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.

The other regions in the country, he added, will be grouped under “expansion areas” – Region III, Region IV, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio City, Zamboanga City, Bacolod, Iloilo, General Santos, Iligan City in Region X, and Caraga Region. "So pagka na-address po natin, na-strengthen natin ang ating vulnerabilities at the same time we strengthen our economy, iyon po ang center of gravity po natin (Once we addressed that and at the same time we strengthen the economy, then that will be the center of gravity)” Galvez said.

Metro Davao and Cebu will also get steady supplies of vaccines, Galvez added.

In June, the Philippines will receive 1.1 million Pfizer doses, 4.5 million of Sinovac, 250,000 Moderna jabs, 1.3 million AstraZeneca doses, and two million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V.

To date, the country is administering an average of 65,879 Covid-19 jabs daily. (MNS)