News Feature: Mahayag folks eager to inoculate after surge

 By: Jocelyn P. Alvarez 

Zamboanga Sibugay, Oct. 11 (PIA) - After experiencing the horrid surge of COVID19 in the entire Zamboaga del Sur province in August-September, more individuals are now turning to inoculation as solace from the intoxicating fear brought about by the virus and main solution to escape from possible death from the “venom” of COVID19.

 

Mahayag Mayor Manuel T. Saladaga during the Network Briefing News with PCOO Sec. Martin M. Andanar said his people are more than eager to be vaccinated soonest possible time and that the LGU is also hoping to receive more vaccines, enough to inoculate the target population. He said, of the target, only 11% received the vaccine (both fully vaccinated and 1st dose) .

Mayor Saladaga appealed to Department Health (DOH) for more vaccines for his constituents saying more than the majority wanted to be vaccinated , but the problem lies on the lack of supply of the vaccine.

 

DOH response

 

DOH9 Regional Director Joshua Brillantes was quick to respond saying that the department will be increasing allotment of vaccines not only to Mahayag municipality but to all provinces in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region as the health department is expecting arrival or large doses of vaccines for Region 9.

 

“We promise that we will be increasing number of vaccines. This end of quarter, we have already a lot of vaccines to be delivered, tuloy tuloy na yan,” he said.

Brillantes said DOH will be adding 2,000 more vaccines from the regular allotment. 

 

Meanwhile, Brillantes informed that vaccines will now be delivered directly to Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur and Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. “Dati kasi, sa Zamboanga City ang bagsak ng lahat ng mga vaccines, but now we have direct delivery,” he said. 

 

2022 vaccine purchase plan

The Philippine government bared its purchase plan for 2022 as early as July 2021, reason? To shun possible gap in the vaccine rollout for what is considered a massive vaccination activity in the history of mankind. 

 

It can be recalled, vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr said 26 million additional doses are in the pipeline for purchase as “transition supply” for 2022. If broken down, the 26 million doses comprise 6 million doses of the single-shot Janssen; 10 million Novavax and 10 million additional Sinovac.

 

2021 vaccine doses 

 

For the year 2021, the country was able to secure 164 million doses, said Galvez, aside from starting off with the 2 million China-donated vaccines. The government projected the 164M doses will be enough to vaccinate a large part of the adult population to achieve herd protection by end of the year. (EDT/JPA/Zamboanga Sibugay)