) – June 29, 2021 – 12:00am
CEBU, Philippines — Vaccination against COVID-19 in Cebu City is stalled anew in the absence of fresh supplies of vaccine from the national government. This time around, vaccination sites have been closed temporarily for four days.
City Health Office officer-in-charge Jeffrey Ibones said the city, as of Monday, June 28, 2021, has not received more vaccines just yet.
To recall, the city also suspended its vaccination temporarily on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, also because of the absence of vaccines. This resumed the following day when the city received additional 5,000 doses of Sinovac but the fresh supply run out fast with simultaneous vaccination at five sites – the University of Cebu-Banilad, UC on J. Alcantara Street, Robinsons Galleria, SM Seaside, and NOAH Complex.
On Friday, only two vaccination sites were operational— Robinsons Galleria and a new site located in Barangay Taptap where 500 doses were allocated.
Ibones said that of the 500 doses, less than 20 doses were left.
“Mao na’ng wala sa nato gi-open kay ang-ang man kaayo ang 19,” he said.
Momentum
Ibones said the inconsistent supply of vaccines may disrupt the momentum of residents wanting to get vaccinated. Cebu City needs to vaccinate at least 700,000 to achieve herd immunity.
“Ang gana sa atoang mga kaigsuonan mapawong siya labi na nakita nila ganahan na kaayo sila magpabakuna, inig abot sa site, wa’y bakuna. Ma-close ta… Mao bitaw ironic kaayo. Magsige ta’g ingon pabakuna na mo nya inig human wa diay ta’y vaccine,” Ibones said.
“Mag-ampo lang ta nga dili mawala ang ilang gana, ilang kadasig sa pagpabakuna. (Let’s) just wait and pray nga maabot atong mga bakuna,” he said.
Ibones reiterated his appeal to DOH-7 for more vaccine allocation.
“Hopefully, matagaan ta’g dako-dako nga allocation para dili ta mag-close open close open (sa sites)… Wa man gud ta’y hold sa pag-allocate sa vaccine, ila man nang allocation. Kung maka-demand pa ta, dili ta mangayo og 5,000 lang,” he said.
More than 4,000 individuals can be inoculated in Cebu City in a day if its five sites are operational.
Based on records from the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, Cebu City has inoculated 146,999 as of June 27, 2021. Of this number, 101, 207 have received the first dose while 45,792 have received the second dose.
“Ubay-ubay na but sa atoang target, kuwang pa gyud. Gamay ra gyud kaayo,” Ibones said.
Overall, at least 270,000 have registered online in Cebu City, 60,000 of whom belong to the A4 priority group or frontline personnel in essential sectors.
Cebu stats
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, spokesperson of the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, said 366,574 doses have been administered across all public and private sector vaccination centers in Cebu as of June 27, 2021.
In Cebu Province, 83, 553 have received the first dose while 20,628 have received the second dose. In Mandaue City, 63,565 have received the first dose while 13,370 have received the second dose. In Lapu-Lapu City, 31,166 have received the first dose while 7,293 have received the second dose.
Loreche is optimistic that Cebu will be able to vaccinate at least 70 percent of its total eligible population by the end of the year.
“Yes, we pray we can reach that number as long as we have the supplies,” she said.
Mandaue situation
Vaccination centers in Mandaue City at the sports complex, University of Cebu, Pacific Mall, and J Centre Mall have resumed its vaccination yesterday for Categories A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5.
Since no walk-ins are allowed, the public is advised to register online and wait for the text message for their schedule.
“Due to a large number of registrants, text confirmation and scheduling may take longer than usual,” said the Mandue City VOC in its Facebook page.
Mandaue City Vaccine Board Chairman Ernie Manatad said vaccination stopped last Friday due to lack of vaccines.
“Friday, walay vaccination. Resumed today, Monday, after we received 4,000 doses of Sinovac last Friday sa hapon,” Manatad told The Freeman.
So far, Mandaue has masterlisted 157,000 individuals from the A1 to A5 priority group.
Regional View
Data shows that as of June 27, 2021, a total of 123,235 of the 132,989 eligible population priority A1 have received the first dose while 82,050 were vaccinated with the second dose.
At least 115,648 out of 549,444 eligible senior citizens have received the first dose while 29,150 have received the second dose. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, JMO (FREEMAN)