Elderly, people with comorbidities to be prioritized in administration of J&J shots
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s first batch of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccines will be used to inoculate senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, the Department of Health said Monday.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, chair of the national vaccination operations center, said 3.2 million J&J doses donated by the United States through the COVAX facility will arrive in the country on July 19.
Senior citizens and people with comorbidities will be prioritized in the administration of the single-dose vaccine.
Cabotaje said the J&J jab is “very convenient” for the elderly and those living in far-flung areas.
The government is hoping to inoculate more than 90% of the country’s older population by the end of July.
But inoculation rate among senior citizens remains low, with only 10.69% or over 915,593 completing their vaccination. Meanwhile, 31.02% or 2.65 million have received their first dose.
The department earlier identified false information about COVID-19 vaccines and concerns on possible side effects as the reasons why the elderly are hesitant to get vaccinated.
Citing a directive from vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Cabotaje also said at least 100,000 J&J doses will be distributed per region.
In early July, Johnson & Johnson said its COVID-19 vaccine showed promise against the highly contagious Delta variant in a laboratory study.
Since March, the government has administered more than 13 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Broken down, over 9.6 million doses were administered as first shots, while around 3.5 million were second jabs.
A new thread on the Philippines' vaccination program in 2021 in the government's revised objective to reach "population protection." Bookmark our COVID-19 and Vaccination Dashboard for the latest figures on the pandemic in the Philippines. — Main image: The STAR/Michael Varcas, file
The city government of Valenzuela City announces that it is temporarily suspending the use of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as they wait for more vaccine supplies.
ADVISORY: Pansamantalang inihinto ang pagbabakuna ng Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine sa Valenzuela habang naghihintay ng karagdagang supply. (????: Valenzuela LGU) pic.twitter.com/j4yO52jgMN
— PTVph (@PTVph) August 7, 2023
Pasig City government announces the schedule of COVID-19 vaccination in the city from July 15 until July 28.
It advises residents that first, second dose and first and 2nd booster shots are available on a first come, first serve basis in its designated vaccination sites.
Among the available vaccine brands is Sinovac for 6 years old and above. It adds that there are no Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines yet for residents age 12 and above.
Schedule ng Pagbabakuna sa Pasig City |07/25/2023-07/28/2023 | First Come, First Served Basis
— Pasig Info (@PasigInfo) July 24, 2023
Tingnan ang material para sa vaccination sites kung saan makakapagpa - 1st at 2nd dose, at 1st at 2nd booster shot; at kung ano ang mga dapat dalhin sa araw ng pagbabakuna
1/3 pic.twitter.com/yqKG0S41CM
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to lead the rollout of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. — The STAR/Helen Flores
President Marcos will lead the launch of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City on Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of MPC pool) | @helenmflores pic.twitter.com/wbB2An7xgg
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) June 21, 2023
The Department of Health reminds public that they can still avail of the COVID-19 booster and bivalent booster. It reposted an infographic that determines when it is best to get the first two boosters and the bivalent booster.
Senior citizens and frontline health workers may now get their second booster shots, particularly mRNA jabs such as Moderna and Pfizer, the Department of Health announces. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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