Cebu City runs out of Pfizer vaccines

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Health Office-in-charge Jeffrey Ibones has disclosed that the city has used up its Pfizer vaccine supply as of yesterday.

With this, Ibones will recommend to Vice Mayor Michael Rama to use the University of Cebu (UC) Senior High School-Private Campus in Barangay Sambag I as a vaccination site for any other vaccine brand.

The school campus was designated for those receiving the Pfizer vaccines.

“I will recommend but depende na sa grupo if mosugot. But, I think sugot ra gyud labi na ini’g Monday kung wa pay mangabot nga vaccine sa Pfizer,” he said.

To recall, 5,800 doses of Pfizer vaccines were allocated to the city government which were stored at the Department of Health 7 facility since the city is yet to have a storage facility suitable for the brand.

Meanwhile, vaccination of the first and second doses will still continue in the other three sites located at University of Cebu-Banilad, Robinsons Galleria, and SM Seaside.

Ibones said that as of Thursday night, there are still 14,000 doses of AstraZeneca remaining.

“Hopefully, mahurot na siya next week…hopefully, naa sad moabot karong semanahona or early next week unya pwede ta makapangayo unya matagaan ta sa DOH (Department of Health) pwede ta makapadayon ra gyud (sa vaccination),” he said.

Ibones assured that the city is continuously coordinating with the DOH so that vaccine allocation will continue and the vaccination will also be continuous.

“Every day sige ko’g tawag gyud if ever naa pa. In fact, gahapon prior nahurot ang Pfizer, two-three days before, nangayo na ta daan nila. Wala pa man pu'y niabot. Nanawag nasad ta gahapon, wala gihapon. Karon taud-taud manawag nasad ta,” he said.

Ibones said the long queue in the vaccination sites is a sign that many city residents are already availing of the vaccines.

“Daghan na gyud ang nagpabakuna nato. Nalipay ta ana. Bisa’g dili siya walk-in. Atong gi-textsan,” said Ibones.

Ibones said they send text messages at least 1,000 persons per day.

He said the lines may be long but are moving, and it does not affect the processing at the sites.

“Naa rata’y mga some adjustment like diri sa atong vaccinators, atong gipadaghan, gipapun-an para daghan ang ma-vaccinan,” he said. — GMR (FREEMAN)