An additional 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by Chinese company Sinovac arrived this Sunday.
At around 7:30 a.m., the plane carrying vaccines from Beijing, China, landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.
This is the first batch of Sinovac vaccines to arrive in the Philippines after Sinovac obtained emergency use approval from the World Health Organization.
According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, the vaccines will be distributed in high-risk areas or areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases.
“Paglalagyan niyan ‘yong NCR (National Capital Region)… areas kagaya ng Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan at Region 6 (Western Visayas) na tumaas ang mga kaso,” said Galvez.
So far, 4 million have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines, while nearly 1.3 million have completed the two doses.
Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo was concerned about the report that 9 percent or 113,000 people did not receive their second dose of the vaccine.
“Whether isang milyon ‘yon o 113,000, ang laki. Naghahabol tayo ng numbers, naghahabol tayo ng supply na hindi ma-expire, so dapat may sistema talaga para masiguro na babalik ‘yong mga tao,” said Robredo.
Additional Sinovac vaccines to be distributed in ‘high-risk areas’
Experts warn of the importance of the second dose to have a high level of protection against the deadly COVID-19.
“Maraming pag-aaral ang nagsasabi na kapag unang dose lang at nagliwaliw ka na, napakataas ng tsansa ng severe disease. Kailangan ang dalawang dose ng bakuna,” said Philippine Red Cross consultant Dr. Michael Tee.
“Hindi sapat ang isang dose para mabigay ang mataas na level ng antibodies,” said Dr. Paulyn Ubial, head of Philippine Red Cross molecular laboratories.
According to Dr. Leo Olarte, former president of the Philippine Medical Association, protection is usually felt within 2 weeks after being injected with the second dose.
“First jab gives priming effect. Mabibigyan ka ng antibodies na maliit lang ang volume. Second jab maximum na stimulation to immune system,” he explained.
But even if vaccinated, one can still be infected, so it is still important to follow health protocols, Olarte said.
About 10 million doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in the country this June.
The ceremonial vaccination for the A4 priority group or workers will take place on Monday.
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