Duque appeals for patience over delay in delivery of COVID-19 vaccines

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday appealed for patience from the public amid a delay in the delivery of coronavirus vaccines.

“Huwag naman po sana kayong mawalan ng tiwala sa ginagawa po ng inyong gobyerno sa pag-angkat ng mga bakuna,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

“Konting pasensya po ang aking pinapakiusap, umaapela po ako sa taumbayan at makakaasa po kayo na darating at darating na po ang mga bakuna na iyan.”

Duque said China’s Sinovac vaccine may be the first to arrive in the country after the Food and Drug Administration approved it for emergency use.  

Malacañang earlier said 600,000 doses from the Chinese firm would arrive on February 23 but Duque said there may be some delay. 

“Mga tatlo hanggang limang araw ang hinihingi ng Chinese Embassy para paghandaan ang pagpapadala ng naturang 600,000 Sinovac vaccines,” he explained.

The Health secretary also blamed the delay on a global supply shortage, citing a United Nations report indicating that only 10 countries have administered 75% of available doses. 

“Ang pangunahing dahilan kung bakit walang bakuna ay talaga naman ‘yung global supply shortage… In fact, pati ang World Health Organization ay sinasabi na 130 countries ay hindi pa rin nakapag-umpisa ng kanilang bakunahan,” Duque said.

Last week, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. also apologized for the delay in the delivery of vaccines, which was initially expected in mid-February with the arrival of 117,000 doses from Pfizer-BioNTech. 

The Philippines has tallied 563,456 infections with 522,874 recoveries and 12,094 deaths as of Monday afternoon.  — RSJ, GMA News