(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Friday, 13 December 2024) Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting the western section of Mindanao and Palawan. Shear Line affecting the eastern sections of Central and Southern Luzon. Northeast Monsoon affecting Northern Luzon and the rest of Central Luzon. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Localized Thunderstorms. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Moderate to Strong winds coming from East to Northeast will prevail with slight to moderate seas / (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Vaccine czar reports smooth vaccination drive as more COVID-19 jabs arrive

The government’s vaccination strategy is going well with a steady supply of vaccines and aggressive daily vaccination, the country’s vaccine czar said on Monday.

Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (PAPRU) and National Task Force against Coronavirus Disease-2019 (NTF COVID-19) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. gives updates to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during the meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on June 21, 2021. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country has breached the eight million mark of administered doses last week, putting Philippines in second place among Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries for the most administered vaccine doses daily, 13th in the entire Asia, and 31st among 200 countries.

Galvez, who is also the National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer, said that the Philippines has successfully closed a deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, securing 40 million vaccine doses.

The vaccine czar said the supply agreement with Pfizer is “one of the best” deals that the Philippine negotiating team has finalized.

Additionally, the Philippines is expecting to receive another four million vaccine doses before the end of June. China’s Sinovac Biotech will deliver 1.5 million doses on June 24, while Moderna is also expected to send vaccine shipment on June 27. 

On the same month, the country may also receive vaccine doses donated by the United States as well as AstraZeneca doses from World Health Organization-led COVAX facility.

For July, the Philippines may receive 4.5 to six million doses from Sinovac, a total of four million doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca from COVAX facility, and at least one million doses of Sputnik V from Russia.

The country will continue to receive a steady supply of vaccines in the next quarter, Galvez said.

Local government units (LGUs) are scaling up their daily capacities, particularly in the rural areas and in highly urbanized cities, Galvez reported.

“At nakakatuwa nga po dahil kasi ‘yong ibang mga LGU talaga they are increasing their capacity and they are mobilizing all the different stakeholders,” he told the President.

The government has so far vaccinated 96 percent of the country’s healthcare workers, with 1.5 million getting the first jab. More than one million healthcare workers are now fully vaccinated.

The number of senior citizens and those with comorbidities receiving COVID-19 shot has also increased, with two million for each category. PND