CAVITE - Governor Jonvic C. Remulla appealed to the national government to allow local government units (LGU) to procure their own coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (August 26), Remulla said that Cavite needs at least six million vaccine doses to achieve 70 percent herd immunity. So far, the province has only gotten approximately one million doses.
According to Remulla, it will take 25 months or more than two years to complete the vaccination program at the current rate.
"Wala po akong nakikitang rason para harangan ang aming layunin na siguraduhing ligtas ang kalusugan at buhay ng aming mga kalalawigan (I don't see any reason to hinder our goal of ensuring the health and safety of our constituents)," Remulla said.
"Maawa na po kung sino man ang may kapangyarihan na ipatupad ito sa lalong madaling panahon (Have pity whoever has the power to implement it as soon as possible)."
The provincial government previously allotted P2.5 billion to procure Novavax doses for Caviteños. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is yet to issue an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Novavax.
In his post, Remulla said that the delivery of Novavax doses will be delayed until the fourth quarter of 2021.
As of August 25, Cavite has 12,936 active cases, according to data from the Department of Health Center for Health Development Region IV-A.