The government has appealed to the public for a little more patience in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines due to the world's limited supply of the life-saving medication.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque admitted there has been a shortage in vaccine supply but assured that additional stocks are expected to arrive in the country.
"I understand talaga na marami tayong kakulangan lalong-lalo po na pagdating są bakuna pero hindi lang tayo may problema dito sa Iloilo. the entire country, and majority of hte world have similar problems (I understand that we have a shortage especially when it comes to vaccines but Iloilo is not the only one experiencing such problem. The entire country and majority of the world have similar problems)," Roque said during televised press briefing in Iloilo City Thursday, July 1.
"Ang hinihingi lang natin ay karagdagang pasensya at parating naman po ang mga bakuna (We are asking for more patience and the vaccines will be forthcoming)," he said.
After getting criticized over his recent remarks, Roque went to Iloilo City to help deliver 50,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines and other health equipment.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas earlier appealed to the national government to provide more vaccines to his city and provide additional aid to health workers following the surging infections. He has also slammed Roque for blaming the public over the case spike.
Of the more than 17 million doses of coronavirus vaccines delivered to the country, around 10 million have been administered to health workers, seniors, those with comorbidity and essential workers. More than 2.5 million people have completed their two-dose vaccination so far.
Amid the tight world supply of vaccines, Roque said the government managed to to boost the country's vaccine supply with the help of allies like China. The country was able to kick off its vaccination program last March after the initial supply coming from China's Sinovac. The country is expected to receive additional stocks in the coming months.
He noted that even the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has lamented the unfair distribution of coronavirus vaccines across the world after the rich nations cornered the bulk of the supply.
"Pero nakahanap tayo ng paraan dahil sa ating mga karatıg bansa gaya ng China, Russia at hopefully india soon, nakakuha tayo ng bakuna at hindi tayo umasa na makakakuha sa bandang huli (But we found a way because of our neighbors like China, Russia and hopefully India soon, we have vaccines and we did not wait to be the last to get vaccines)," he said.
"Nagkaroon ng proteksyon ang higit sa 10 million na kababayan natin (We have given protection to more than 10 million of our countrymen)," he said.
At present, the government has given priority to Metro Manila and 18 other cities and provinces for vaccine distribution based on their high coronavirus cases, population density, and economic activity.
The initial areas given vaccine access priority are Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, and Rizal. Ten additional urban cities, namely Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Baguio, Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Tuguegarao, General Santos, Naga, and Legazpi, were recently added to the vaccination priority list.