The country’s vaccine expert panel recommended the vaccination of AstraZeneca vaccines to those who should have been injected with the 2nd dose of Sputnik V vaccines in the face of the delay in the arrival of its supply.
“Kasi pareho sila ng viral vector at parehong adeno-26 ang ginagamit nila. Nagkaroon kami ng meeting kahapon ng vaccine experts… Sabi nila once ang supplier ay hindi nakapagbigay ng binigay na grace period for spacing, we can already give AstraZeneca,” said vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
The Department of Health has ensured that it is safe because the technology platform used for Sputnik V and AstraZeneca vaccines is the same.
“That is in accordance with recommendation; safety-wise walang problema… Ang pag-mix and match, along the same technology platform. Halimbawa, ang Moderna saka Pfizer, MRNA ang [kanilang] technology platform, puwede mong i-mix and match ‘yun. Ganu’n din naman sa viral vector, tama ang sinabi ni Sec. Galvez, ‘yung Sputnik, ‘yung AstraZeneca, ‘yung Janssen, lahat ‘yan viral vector,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Based on the latest data, about 350,000 COVID-19 vaccines of Sputnik V of the Gamaleya Institute of Russia have arrived in the country.
AstraZeneca vaccine recommended as 2nd dose for Sputnik V
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said that in Metro Manila, the number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 in Manila per day rose to 214,000 on Tuesday. However, it is still short of the 250,000 doses per day targeted by the mayors to make the most of the two-week lockdown.
According to DOH-National Capital Region Director Gloria Balboa, the level of vaccination really depends on the vaccine supply.
“Mas maraming vaccines available, mas maraming maija-jab ‘yung ating vaccination teams sa LGUs. ‘Yung mga vaccination sites, I think they have to open na ‘yung mga nakaabang na vaccination sites ‘pag dumami ang vaccines. Mayroon din naman tayong private partners… i-maximize din natin sila,” said Balboa.
The challenge for the Metro Manila Council is to have more staff now that doctors are also busy sending COVID-19 cases to hospitals, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos.
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