Vaccines arrive; Doses expected in Cebu on March 4

CEBU, Philippines — “We welcome this day with high hope of finally ending the COVID-19 pandemic in our country. Today, we make another step towards our fight against COVID-19 as we received 600,000 doses of Coronavac from the People’s Republic of China,” Duterte said in a speech in Manila.

The vaccines donated by the People’s Republic of China arrived on board a Chinese military plane at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Duterte viewed the crate containing the vaccine doses and inspected the actual vaccine vials before the vaccines were transported in at least six 40-footer trucks to cold chain storage facilities that include the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the Metropac Logistics in Marikina City.

Sinovac’s CoronaVac is the third COVID-19 vaccine brand, aside from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca, granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Duterte said he considers this gesture of China as a hallmark of Philippine-China partnership.

“With this very important shipment, I am confident that more batches of vaccines will be available until every Filipino will be given a chance to be vaccinated at the earliest possible opportunity. I wish to assure the public that your government remains committed to a timely rollout that will enable us to confidently reopen our society,” Duterte said.

“I said it before and I am saying it again, COVID-19 vaccines should be treated as a global public good and made available to all rich and poor alike. No nation, no people should be left to suffer the ravages of this pandemic for whatever reasons,” he added.

Local Situation

In Region 7, Department of Health (DOH)-7 chief pathologist and spokesperson, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, said that they are excited and happy that the long awaited first batch of vaccines has arrived.

As of yesterday, DOH-7 was yet to find out how many doses will arrive in Cebu but the vaccines may arrive on March 4, 2021.

In Cebu City, the body that is looking into the city’s vaccination program has narrowed down to Novavax/Covovax, AstraZenica, and Sinovac the brands the city is considering of buying for its residents.

Novavax has a pending EUA application.

The country’s vaccine czar, Sec. Carlito Galvez, has suggested Novavax and even AstraSenica to Cebu City in a conversation with Vice Mayor Michael Rama during the City Council’s virtual session last Friday.

Sinovac, on the other hand, is one of the brands the national government will roll out for the national inoculation program.

Cebu City is no longer considering Pfizer-BioNtech, the first vaccine to be given an EUA in the country, mainly due to storage concerns.

Moderna has the same storage requirement as Pfizer-BioNtech.

Councilors Raymond Garcia and Alvin Dizon both said the city should remain open to other brands since demand is high and supply is low at this point.

Rama said the city will let other brands present only when they have the nod from the FDA and DOH. Aside from efficacy rate, the city also needs to consider the price of each vaccine brand.

Representatives of Novavax/Covovax, AstraZenica, and Sinovac will speak with the City Council in a special session today, Monday.

Rama said that majority of those surveyed by the city said any brand would do as long as the vaccine is approved by FDA, safe and effective, and available soon.

Councilor Joel Garganera, deputy chief implementer of the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), said the arrival of the vaccine means Cebu City should “really prepare and install proper safeguard to ensure proper enforcement” of its vaccination program.

“It feels like the eagle has finally landed and I feel somewhat relieved— but not entirely. This is only the beginning of the end and the procurement and distribution of vaccines itself is yet another challenge. There is no denying that not everyone will be able to avail of the vaccine right away and there will be an order of priority. Due to its limited number for now, a lot of issue will arise and we have to be prepared for it,” Garganera said.

Move Fast

Back in Manila, Duterte directed all concerned agencies to institutionalized the whole of government approach in its rollout of the vaccines.

“I cannot stress enough, we cannot afford to waste time or resources in the distribution of these vaccines because we are dealing with precious lives,” he said.

The President thanked the medical frontliners for their valuable and selfless contribution in the fight against COVID-19. He said the government recognizes the profound sacrifices they continue to make every single day. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, JMO (FREEMAN)