DAVAO CITY – A total of 4,200 vials of the Sinovac coronavirus vaccine arrived at the Cotabato Airport for the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Thursday.
"Ang darating po sa atin ngayon, according to the communication that was sent to us from the central office, meron pong 4,200 vials of Sinovac in two doses," Dr. Amirel Usman, OIC Minister of the BARMM Ministry of Health said in a press conference prior to the arrival of the vaccine.
"Ibig sabihin po ng two doses na ‘yun, about 2,100 lang po ang mga recipients nun kasi po ‘yung another dose, usually after four weeks after the first vaccination," he said.
Usman said 1,400 vials were allotted for Maguindanao; 972 for Lanao del Sur; 278 for Basilan; 1,032 for Sulu; and 518 for Tawi-Tawi.
"Inshallah, after we utilize all the vaccines meron po tayong tinatawag din na reverse logistics kung saan lahat ng mga used vaccines ipapadala po natin ‘yan sa national office for proper accounting and disposal," Usman said.
He said those who will be prioritized will be the frontliners.
"Lahat po ng mga individual na nagtatrabaho sa hospital, mapa-private man o public, at lahat ng ahensya na may frontliners," Usman said.
Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas, Deputy Minister, Minister of Health said as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, BARMM has recorded 4,110 total cases of COVID-19, 92 of which are active cases. The region has also recorded 3,863 recoveries and 155 deaths.