QC to receive 2,000 more AstraZeneca doses next week —Mayor Belmonte

Quezon City will receive 2,000 additional doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine next week, Mayor Joy Belmonte said Friday.

According to GMA News’ JP Soriano, the city government will also schedule the inoculation of senior citizens for next week. 

QC suspended its vaccination of the elderly on Thursday after its supply of AstraZeneca doses ran low. 

Other cities like Manila have also halted their inoculation of senior citizens due to the shortfall. 

Only the AstraZeneca jab is allowed for use on the elderly since Sinovac’s CoronaVac—the only other vaccine currently available in the country—is only recommended for clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59.

Health authorities have vowed to fast track the approval of Sinovac’s use on senior citizens. 

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III also said the government is exerting its “best effort” to procure more Sinovac and Sputnik V doses after the World Health Organization said the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility was struggling to meet demand. 

The Philippines was expecting almost one million AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX Facility on March 22 but the delivery has been delayed to April or May.—Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News