TIANGCO SA NVOC, HTAC: BAKIT LIMITAHAN ANG TATANGGAP NG 2ND BOOSTER?

HUMINGI ng komento si Mayor Toby Tiangco mula sa National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) at Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) kung bakit ang second COVID booster ay ibinigay lamang sa mga piling grupo. 

Sa kanyang liham, binanggit ni Tiangco na maraming Navoteños ang gustong makakuha ng second booster shot subalit hindi kwalipikado ayon sa guidelines mula sa Department of Health (DOH). 

Nakasaad sa DOH Memorandum No. 2022-0206 na bilang karagdagan sa mga immunocompromised individual, tanging ang mga senior citizen at frontline healthcare workers lamang ang maaring makatanggap ng second booster ng Moderna at Pfizer vaccines.

Gayunman, ipinunto ni Tiangco na ang data ng gobyerno ay nagpakita ng mababang paggamit mula sa nasabing priority groups.

“When there are enough vaccines with near to reaching its expiry, what is the logic behind making the 2nd booster exclusive to the above priority groups on the one hand, and disallow all other sectors that are most willing to get their 2nd booster, on the other?” tanong ni Tiangco.

“At the very least, what is the logic of disallowing privately procured vaccines, which are near to reaching its expiry, that are being donated to the government, including LGUs, from being administered as 2nd booster to members of all other sectors who are requesting to be administered with their 2nd booster shot?” dagdag niya.

Sinabi pa ni Tiangco na ang second booster ay magpapahusay sa proteksyon ng mga na-exposed sa COVID, kabilang Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1.

“Amid the threat of waning immunity and a possible surge of cases, expanding the coverage of the 2nd booster, using vaccines donated free of charge, is the most logical next step for us to reach the New Normal,” pagwawakas niya.

Hanggang June 14, ang Navotas ay nakapagbakuna na ng 219,066 first doses; 217,854 second doses, 59,944 first booster, at 2,817 second booster.

Ang lungsod ay mayroon ding stock na 32,860 doses ng Astrazeneca; 4,096, Sinovac; 1,428, Sinopharm; at 47,550, Pfizer. (JUVY LUCERO)