Just how many COVID vaxx doses Iloilo City got?

By Jennifer P. Rendon and Joseph B.A. Marzan

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas asked. The Department of Health-Center for Health Development 6 replied (DOH-CHD-6) promptly replied.

But it appears that the explanation of Dr. Emilia Monicimpo, DOH-6 regional director, on whereabouts of the “unaccounted” vaccine doses sent to Iloilo City did not satisfy Treñas.

Monicimpo said the 17,680 “missing doses” were directly distributed to Iloilo City Hospitals

Now, Treñas is asking DOH-6 how many doses were given to each hospital.

“I am requesting them to give us a listing of those who were given the 17,000 doses,” he said.

Treñas further queried, “are there 17,000 medical workers in the hospitals?”

He also told Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Clarissa Singh-Vergeire that it would be totally unfair “to make us account for 17,000 doses which we do not even know where the DOH regional office gave out. It will be totally unfair to us.”

Treñas on Tuesday wrote a letter to Monicimpo stating that since March 2021, Iloilo City received a total of 66,544 doses of vaccines – 49,664 doses of CoronaVac from Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech and 16,880 of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Treñas said the vaccines they have received were all accounted for by the City Health Office.

“However, in the June 20, 2021 report of DOH, it stated that Iloilo City has been sent 84,224 (62,804 Sinovac and 21,420 AstraZeneca),” he said.

In a letter dated the same day, Monicimpo explained to Treñas that the 17,000 doses went to government and private hospitals in Iloilo City.

She also cited NTF Memorandum Circular No. 05 s2021 entitled, “Adaptation and Implementation of the Philippines’ National Deployment and Vaccination Plan of COVID-19 Vaccines issued last January 26, 2021.

Under the circular, the Local Vaccine Operations Center (LVOC) shall oversee all the implementing units such as government hospitals (both public and private), private clinics, government agencies, and rural health units.

“As such, all activities of the implementing units shall be monitored by the local vaccine operations center to ensure timely and appellate implementation of the vaccination program. Rest assured that we are in close coordination with the members of your local vaccine operations center through the Iloilo City Health Office and we are your partners for the efficient and effective delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in Iloilo City,” Monicimpo told Treñas.

Heeding the mayor’s request for a full accounting of COVID-19 vaccines released to city hospitals, the DOH regional office also released via Facebook the breakdown of the vaccines it allocated to Iloilo City, particularly to the hospitals.

A total of 18,072 vaccines released to hospitals as of June 22, which include 13,512 Coronavac doses and 4,560 AZD1222 doses.

The breakdown for each health facility in the city are as follows:

-Iloilo Doctors Hospital – 2,900 (2,300 Coronavac, 600 AZD1222);

-Iloilo Mission Hospital – 1,187 (387 Coronavac, 800 AZD1222);

-Medicus Medical Center – 1,200 (1,060 Coronavac, 140 AZD1222);

-PNP Infirmary-Police Regional Office 6 Health Services – 60 (all Coronavac);

-QualiMed Hospital – 870 (690 Coronavac, 180 AZD1222);

-AMOSUP Seamen’s Hospital – 440 (all Coronavac);

-St. Paul Hospital Iloilo – 3,077 (2,497 Coronavac, 580 AZD1222);

-The Medical City Iloilo – 1,224 (864 Coronavac, 360 AZD1222);

-West Visayas State University Medical Center – 2,484 (1,804 Coronavac, 680 AZD1222); and

– Western Visayas Medical Center – 3,500 (2,600 Coronavac, 900 AZD1222).

 

HOSPITAL BED CAPACITY

Treñas on Wednesday said that the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the region has led to insufficiency of hospital beds.

He said that a total of 78 patients are waiting to be admitted while many are still fighting for their lives in various facilities.

Even earlier, Treñas has repeatedly asked the national government for more vaccine allocation for Iloilo City.

He said that many Ilonggos are now ready to be vaccinated but, unfortunately, only a limited number of vaccines are sent to the region.

“It is very painful to see and hear stories of our patients who are struggling to live. We are experiencing a dramatic increase of cases, and we are doing our best to surpass this struggle but we need all the help that we can. I am hoping that they will see the real situation of Western Visayas and assist us during this battle,” he said.

But on Wednesday afternoon, Treñas announced that Sec. Harry Roque and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. called him up informing that they are finding solutions to Iloilo City’s concerns.

These include the lack of vaccines; PhilHealth problem of unpaid bills to hospitals amounting to almost P1-B; lack of medical personnel; lack of COVID medicines; and lack of equipment like ventilators and high flow oxygen cannula.

“They also informed me that they are coming to Iloilo City early next week with the needed supplies and solutions. I will wait for them to come here so that I will know how these problems can be resolved for our beloved Ilonggos,” he said.

Next week, if the 50,000 doses of Sinovac promised by Galvez and Duque will be delivered to Iloilo City, Treñas said they would operate four vaccination centers at the Central Philippine University, Ateneo de Iloilo, Iloilo Convention Center, and University of San Agustin gym.