Are there enough Covid-19 vaccines?

THE DUTERTE administration has finally approved the mass vaccination of the general population or those who do not belong in any of the vaccination priority groups set by the Health department.

President Rodrigo Duterte also approved the vaccination of children 12-17 years old, according to spokesman Harry Roque, adding, the government expects to receive a big supply of Covid-19 vaccines.

“Ito po’y inaprubahan ng Pangulo sang-ayon po sa advice ni Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, at magsisimula na rin po ang ating pagbabakuna ng ating mga Kabataan. Ang pinaghahandaan po natin yung masterlisting pa lang naman. Pag meron na po tayong masterlist antayin po natin ang anunsyo kung sino ang mauuna,” Roque said.

He assured though that while the general population and children will be added to those who can get jabbed with a Covid-19 vaccine, those who belong to Priority Groups A1 to A3 will not lose their prioritization.

Roque was referring to the health workers, senior citizens and those with comorbidities.

“Magkakaroon po tayo ng express lane para sa kanila. Pero ang importante lang, dahil nandyan na po ang supply, at ang naging problema naman natin dati ay kakulangan ng supply, ngayong maraming supply eh sisimulan na po natin ang bakunahan ng general population,” he said.

The government and the Department of Health continue to encourage the public to get inoculated against the deadly respiratory disease, but the supplies of Covid-19 vaccines are lacking.

Across the country, residents are flocking to vaccination sites, but many of those who registered with health centers or through the Internet have not received any schedule for their inoculation.

Some have waited for months, but until now did not get any reply from the government. And others had claimed unequal distribution of the vaccines or favoritism, nepotism and undue influence and even bribery in the mass vaccination program.

And many provinces and cities have not received its equal share of the vaccines and some even got more than what others were given.

The Philippines has over 110 million population and is lagging behind some Southeast Asian countries in vaccine procurement.

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, with vaccines being approved for use in different parts of the globe, the scale and complexity of their manufacture, allocation and distribution globally will be unprecedented.

It said this will also present corruption risks that may threaten vital public health goals. These risks include the entry of substandard and falsified vaccines into markets, theft of vaccines within the distribution systems, leakages in emergency funding designated for the development and distribution of vaccines, nepotism, favoritism, and corrupted procurement systems.

“These corruption risks must be identified and mitigated by public institutions to help advance access to safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines by the population, including the most vulnerable and marginalized groups,” it said. (Cebu Examiner)