The government’s vaccination program continues its rollout in areas outside Luzon.
China’s Sinovac vaccines have been delivered to Cebu and Davao on Tuesday, as confirmed by local authorities.
At least 7,200 doses of Sinovac vaccines were given to Cebu which were delivered via Philippine Airlines flight. The doses were then brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. The city is expected to kick off its vaccination program on March 4.
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Vicente Sotto hospital director Gerardo Aquino said that 600 out of their 2,900 staff are willing to get the Sinovac vaccine.
Philippine Airlines also delivered 12,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines in Davao.
Department of Health Davao chief Annabelle Yumang said the vaccines are initially earmarked for the Southern Philippine Medical Center or SPMC in Davao City, Davao Regional Medical Center in Davao del Norte. If there will be excess, they will also deliver the vaccines to private hospitals.
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“For the 12,000 dosages, 8,000 will be used for the medical frontliners. The remaining 4,000 will be allocated for the second round of vaccination. We will be asking the national office for another 4,000 dosages,” Yumang said.
SPMC chief Dr. Ricardo Audan said that at least 75% of their 5,900 employees expressed willingness to get the Sinovac vaccine.
The hospital aims to vaccinate at least 150 people on Friday. (TDT)