Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso assured that the city government still has enough supplies of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to administer second doses to those who were inoculated.
Rumors circulated that the government allegedly used up all the available vaccines to administer.
"Hindi tayo nagbabakuna na hindi natin hawak ang second dose (We don't vaccinate people without keeping the second dose)," Domagoso said in an interview over DZRH on Monday (April 12). "Pumanatag kayo mga kababayan (Rest assured, Manilenos)."
The Manila mayor also confirmed that they used up all available AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for the first dose of senior citizens in the capital city.
Those who were inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine have to wait for a longer interval period of 12 weeks before getting their second dose, unlike the shorter, four-week interval period for those who got the Sinovac jabs, he said.
Studies have also shown that the longer that one waits before getting their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the more effective it will be.
As of April 10, a total of 67,690 frontline workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities have been vaccinated in Manila.