Iloilo City readies vaccine storage capacity

The Iloilo City government said that it can store and transport more COVID-19 vaccines even if supplies remain limited as it is currently dependent on allocations from the national government.

According to Mayor Jerry Treñas, the city can store thousands of vaccine doses of Pfizer with its current vaccine freezer.

The city has also entered into an agreement with Zuellig Pharma for the transport and storage of vaccines.

“lloilo City can store up to 10,000 doses of Pfizer in its own vaccine freezer. In addition, however, the city has entered into an agreement with Zuellig Pharma for the transport and storage of vaccines including Pfizer, Moderna, Gamaleya, and AstraZeneca. We have the capacity to receive, transport, and store these vaccines,” he said in a statement over the weekend.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine needs to be stored at minus 70 Celsius while Moderna doses require minus 20 Celsius.

But vaccines are currently in short supply since the city is dependent on allocations from the national government.

“Iloilo City is capable to store and transport vaccines. The only thing lacking are the vaccines, as we are dependent on what is given to us by the national government.,” he lamented.

From March to June 9, Iloilo City has administered 41,491 doses of COVID-19 vaccine allocations from the Department of Health, based on data from the Iloilo City government.

Using the more than 41,000 doses, a total of 8,296 individuals have been fully vaccinated after receiving two doses.

Meanwhile, 33,195 Ilonggos received their first dose, and will be scheduled for second dose depending on required intervals of vaccines administered to them.

The city is still waiting for the 600,000 vials of AstraZeneca that is expected to arrive within the month of July.

A total of 300,000 residents and 100,000 non-residents working in the city are targeted to avail of city-purchased AstraZeneca.

 

‘MUCH BIGGER’ ALLOCATION

In Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia assured that this city will receive a “much bigger allocation” of COVID-19 vaccines from the national government.

In his interview with CNN’s “The Final Word” anchor Rico Hizon recently, Leonardia was asked if he, as mayor and as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), felt “insecure” due to the supposed minimal attention that local government units (LGUs) outside Metro Manila are getting.

Leonardia said that there was such insecurity at the start, but not so anymore.

“You know, Metro Manila is not the Philippines. Apparently, they listened to us. Secretary [Carlito] Galvez himself is seeing it through that we will get a much bigger allocation. That is what is happening now,” the mayor said.

The interview was conducted on the same day when the 2.2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

According to Leonardia, he is still awaiting word from the national government as to how many of these Pfizer vaccines will be allocated for Bacolod.

The Pfizer vaccine is a “different breed” in the sense that it requires its own particular temperature conditions for proper storage, the mayor said.

Earlier, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje told Leonardia through a letter dated June 3, 2021 that Bacolod will be receiving additional vaccine allocation from the Western Visayas Center for Health Development.

Cabotaje, as chair of the National Vaccination Operations Center, also commended the vaccination efforts of the Bacolod City Government.

She expressed her “profound appreciation” for Leonardia’s “unending service to the Filipino people amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.”

From March 5 to June 11, 2021, the Bacolod City Emergency Operations Center –Task Force (EOC-TF) recorded a total of 42,173 doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered to Bacolodnons.

Of that total, 32,538 were for first doses, while the remaining 9,635 were for second doses, the EOC data showed.

As to brand of vaccines administered, the data further showed that 21,885 doses were AstraZeneca vaccines while 20,288 shots were of the Sinovac brand.

Earlier, Leonardia had requested the Office of Secretary Carlito Galvez for additional COVID-19 vaccines considering the sustained increase in the number of local cases in Bacolod.

In response, Galvez assured that Bacolod will be given enough doses to inoculate 100 percent of the City’s adult population and such shall be delivered “in accordance with the relevant existing laws, rules, and regulations.” (ERS/Bacolod City PIO)