Additional 7,200 doses of Coronavac to arrive today

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, March 30, (PIA) - - An additional 7,200 doses of Sinovac's Coronavac vaccines are expected to arrive today, the Department of Health (DOH) region 2 confirmed.

Sinovac's Coronavac vaccines that were earlier delivered for Region 2. (by PIA) 

Joyce Maquera, regional vaccination focal person, said since there are no available flights in the region today, they need to pick up the vaccines in Marikina City with the assistance of the police authorities. 

The 7,200 doses are intended for the remaining healthcare frontliners who were not yet inoculated according to Maquera.

However, of the said allocation, 1,200 doses will be intended for Quirino considering the surge of cases in the said province. 

"We need to finish vaccinating our health workers or those who belong to priority one list before we proceed to the next priority who are the senior citizens," Maquera said. 

She also reported that of the 21, 640 Coronavac and AstraZeneca vaccines that were delivered in the region earlier, 89.63 percent were already consumed. There are still some health facilities that are rolling out the vaccination. 

Of the 19, 445 healthcare frontliners who were already inoculated, Maquera said they monitored 413 who experienced minor side effects and 14 with serious side effects but were managed. 

"There were also 684 deferrals because they have symptoms during the scheduled vaccination,  some are pregnant, some have exposure to COVID-19 patients and previously vaccinated," Maquera said. 

She added that there were 146 refusals because of fear to be vaccinated, due to their religious beliefs and expecting pregnancy. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Rio Magpantay, regional director, said more vaccines for Cagayan Valley will be coming in the next few days which are expected to inoculate the next priority groups until the 70 percent of the region's populace will be vaccinated to achieve the herd immunity against COVID-19. 

As of now, with the continuous rise of cases in the different parts of the region, Magpantay urged public to follow always the minimum health standards and to comply with the guidelines set by the government to contain the further surge of cases. (MDCT/OTB/PIA 2-Cagayan) 

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)