Over 331,405 doses of Sinovac and Pfizer vaccines for Covid-19 are currently available in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Health’s (DOH) regional office.
“Based on our inventory, our total delivery to Western Visayas is 36,270 doses for the purple cap for our adults and 44,500 for the orange cap for the pedia, both Pfizer,” Dr. Jose Martin Atienza, Medical Officer and Region Immunization Program Coordinator, said.
Atienza said Pfizer vaccines have been delivered to the provincial health offices (PHOs) of Negros Occidental and City Health Offices (CHOs) of Iloilo and Bacolod.
For the purple cap, 10,530 doses have been delivered to Negros Occidental; 8,190 to Iloilo; 3,350 to Iloilo City; and 2,340 to Bacolod City.
For the pediatrics, he said that 12,000 were shipped to Negros Occidental; 10,000 to Iloilo; 4,500 to Bacolod City; and 3,000 to Iloilo City.
On April 19, 4,680 purple caps and 5,000 orange caps were delivered to Antique.
Aklan province is expected to receive 2,340 doses for adult vaccines and 3,000 for pediatrics, while Capiz will have 4,680 for the purple cap and 6,000 orange cap vaccines.
“If ever they need more, the regional office is willing to deliver more vaccines to our PHOs and CHOs,” he added.
“We have Sinovac available, it has been readily available even in the past few months,” Atienza said.
The Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines for adults can already be used for the second booster following the release of guidelines by the DOH for the general population 18 years old and above.
DOH Memorandum Order 2023-0146 allows the use of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca for the eligible population 18 years old and above; Pfizer, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm, and AstraZeneca for immunocompromised population; and Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca for pregnant and lactating women.
He added that DOH’s regional office is currently conducting an inventory of target recipients for the expanded implementation of the second booster.
The shelf life of the vaccines is 18 months from the date of manufacture as long as the storage condition was approved by health authorities. (PNA)