An unusually large crowd of vaccine seekers on Thursday caused a stir at the City Coliseum when they learned that Pfizer was made available for inoculation.
Unfortunately for them, just 500 vaccine doses were available, with only 400 doses accessible for walk-in recipients. City Health Officer and City Covac head Dr. Ric Panganiban said they had restricted the supply to guarantee that there would be enough for a second dosage.
“Mayroon kaming 2,100 doses na allocated, pero ang kalahati noon, itatabi muna para sa second dose. 500 lang muna ngayong araw ang para sa first dose, at 500 naman bukas. Dahil siguro nalaman nilang Pfizer, kaya talagang maraming pumila,” he said in an interview.
Given the fact that there was no announcement on the Puerto Princesa City Covac that Pfizer doses would be provided, people nevertheless went to the Coliseum. The only announcement made recently was for first-dose beneficiaries in the A1, A2, and A3 classifications.
Some individuals were also accused of cutting in line for Pfizer shots, which Panganiban disputed. He stated that just 100 people were given priority, while the remainder were given vaccines on the spot.
“Mayroon kasi kaming tinext na 100 persons kasi nag-trial muna kami para sa Pfizer. Random iyon, wala kaming kakilala doon, na-generate ‘yon ng computer. Pero doon sa 100, ang natitira doon ang allocated sa walk-ins. Kahit naman ako ganoon magiging reaction ko, kung pumila ako at may makita akong parang nagcu-cut in line. Pero random namin ‘yon pinili,” he added.
Panganiban said that there will be another round of 500 Pfizer vaccinations on Friday, August 13, then they will have a rollout of Moderna on Saturday.
He added that the city government has also secured second doses for Moderna by only giving out half of the supply.