Several batches of vaccine deliveries are expected to arrive in the country this week including J&J, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Moderna vaccines, according to Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque Jr.
In a press briefing on July 15, 2021, Secretary Roque announced the expected arrival today of Moderna vaccines, of which 194,000 are allocated for the national government, while 56,400 are for the private sector.
“Bukas ng umaga naman, July 16, ay inaasahang darating ang 1,150,800 doses ng AstraZeneca na binili ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan at pribadong sektor,” said Secretary Roque.
Also expected to arrive tomorrow, July 16, are 1,606,600 doses of J&J vaccines, which is a donation from the United States under the COVAX Facility, said Sec. Roque.
The Palace official also announced that the 1.5-M doses of Sinovac that was procured by the national government is expected to be delivered on Saturday, July 17, 2021. Roque mentioned that one million doses of Sinovac were delivered yesterday, July 14, 2021.
Also scheduled to arrive on July 17 is the remaining 3.2-M doses of J&J vaccines, added Roque.
As of July 14, 2021, there are now a total of 14,074,514 vaccine doses that have been administered nationwide, according to data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard. Of this number, 4,047,792 already completed their second dose. A total of 257,156 daily jabs were administered yesterday.
Roque, who is concurrent spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), also announced in the same press briefing that the travel restriction imposed on Indonesia will be effective starting 12:01AM of July 16, 2021 (Manila time) until 12:59PM of July 31, 2021. Effective tomorrow, travelers who came from Indonesia or have been to Indonesia within 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines, will no longer be allowed entry to the country.
“Hindi po kasama rito ang mga Pilipinong babalik kasama sa government-initiated repatriation programs, o parte ng non-government repatriation programs at special commercial flights na pinapayagan sa ilalim ng ating IATF resolutions,” Roque clarified.
Meanwhile, Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau mentioned that based on Philippine Genome Biosurveillance Report, there is still no community transmission of the Delta variant in the country. Dr. De Guzman said that to keep the Delta variant and other variants of concerns (VOCs) or new variants of interests (VOIs) from entering the country, the four-door strategy is being employed.
Dr. De Guzman explained that the four-door strategy includes the imposition of travel restrictions as initial response to new VOCs and VOIs, and the implementation of safeguards such as screening, quarantine, and testing at ports of entry.
On the other hand, Dr. Bernadett Velasco, Operations Manager of the One Hospital Command Center assured that all hospitals and health facilities have been preparing for the possible entry of the highly transmissible Delta variant. Dr. Velasco said that the number of ICU beds and COVID beds that were increased in response to the surge in cases last February and March, are being maintained by hospitals and health facilities. ### OPS-PCOO
