The Fourth
With COVID-19 cases surge outside NCR, limited vaccine supply, logistics problem leave provinces vulnerable
by Jezreel Ines
Three months after the arrival of the first set of vaccines in the Philippines, many Metro Manila cities are in hurry to vaccinate their population as the concentration of COVID-19 cases is in their areas.
However, as cases surge outside the National Capital Region (NCR) in the past few weeks, some provinces are struggling to combat the virus and inoculate their citizens due to a lack of vaccine supply, leaving them more vulnerable as they are not a priority in vaccine allocation.
From limited vaccine supply, spoilage of vaccines due to power outages, hours-long travel time for distribution and lack of manpower, some local government units are scrambling to keep up with the national vaccination deployment strategy of the country.
Small number of vaccines, low vaccinated population
Melody Natividad, National Immunization Program coordinator of Cagayan Province said the inoculation in the province becomes a challenge due to the small number of vaccine supply given to them by the national government.
LOW SUPPLY OF VACCINES. Sinovac vaccines arrived at the Cagayan Provincial Capitol on March 28, 2021. Notice the few vials of vaccines in the storage. Photo by Melody Natividad.
The Department of Health (DOH) on May 31, flagged an increase in COVID-19 cases across the Philippines particularly outside NCR.
The average daily attack rate (ADAR) was highest in Cagayan Valley, with 10.4 cases per 100,000 people.
The ADAR is the number of new cases in a city or province over a two-week period, divided by the population of the city or province. ADAR is considered high risk if it is 7 and above. The higher the ADAR of a place, the higher one's risk of getting COVID-19.
Natividad said Cagayan Province has received 10,000 doses of Sinovac and 4,800 doses of Sputnik V vaccines.
Tuguegarao City has the highest allotment for vaccines due to its high number of cases in the province. However, Natividad added that these are not enough compared to the total number of cases in their province.
As of June 25, Cagayan recorded 17,420 COVID-19 cases and 1,128 active cases.
“Kahit po nasa city ang sentro, hindi pa rin po iyon sapat dahil kailangan po namin mabakunahan agad ang mga tao para hindi na kumalat pa ang virus,” Natividad said.
Ten cities, including Tuguegarao City, were added to the government's list of geographic areas that will be prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccination program, said Malacañang on Thursday, June 24.
In North Cotabato, National Immunization Program Coordinator Karla Mae Palo also lamented the low number of vaccine supplies given to their province.
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“Kahit mas malaki po ang cases ng NCR sa aming probinsya, may mga lugar po dito sa amin na mataas din ang kaso. Hihintayin pa po ba dapat natin na mataas ang kaso naming lahat bago kami mabigyan ng sapat na bakuna dito?” she said.
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(Although the cases of NCR are higher compared to our province, there are also specific places here that have a concerning number of cases. Do we still have to wait until our cases are high before we are given enough vaccines here?)
Some people are going to vaccination sites even if they are not scheduled for the vaccine, Palo said this is an indication that people of North Cotabato are willing to be vaccinated.
“Kaso po hindi naman po namin sila mabakunahan dahil kokonti lang po ang binibigay sa amin. Sinasabi na lang po namin na once na meron na, tatawagan namin sila agad”
(They are not vaccinated because of the low supply of vaccines. We always assure them that once the vaccine is available, we will call them immediately)
Logistical problems, vaccine hesitancy
Natividad also lamented the lack of health care professionals that are working for the vaccination program of the province.
“Mahirap kasi mag-isa lang ako sa program ko and it requires a work na dapat may marami. Marami po sana kami para hindi po ganoon kabigat ang trabaho ko,” she said.
(It’s difficult to work that requires a lot of tasks if you are only one. That’s why I hope to have a co-worker to lessen my heavy workload)
The province of Cagayan has a total of 7 nurses working for different health programs of the province. However, Natividad solely works for the allocation, vaccine dispense, monitoring of consumption, and vaccination for their vaccination program in the province.
She added that the regional office offers help, however, a permanent worker that will help her is very much needed given the difficult situation.
“Mahirap kasi kapag may na-quarantine sa isa sa amin, actually tatlo po kasi ang na-quarantine sa amin lately kaya sobrang hirap po iyong naging flow ng trabaho namin,” Natividad said.
(It’s very difficult especially when one of my workmates undergo quarantine. Recently I have three co-workers that undergo quarantine that is why our workflow is very disorganized)
Despite her heavy workload, she has no subsidy or any allowance from the government. The provincial government promised a hazard pay for healthcare workers, but she has not yet received any amount of it.
“Kumuha sila ng DTR namin para sa hazard pay daw pero so far wala pa naman po. From January to June wala pa naman po and hopefully meron, mahirap po kasi lalo na sa mga gastusin ko sa pamilya,” she said.
(They get our DTR for hazard pay but so far I have not received it yet. I haven’t received for the month of January to June, I hope I will because of my family expenses)
Aside from lack of manpower, problems in storage facilities also became a challenge for other provinces.
In North Cotabato, there are local government units that are struggling in storing vaccines due to the lack of storage facilities.
Palo said municipalities of Pigcawayan and Alamada are now using the storage facility of nearby local government units to store their vaccines.
In the city of Makilala, North Cotabato, a total number of 348 vaccines had been spoiled after these were kept in a non-functional freezer on May 7.
Lito Canedo, Makilala IATF spokesperson said in a Philippine News Agency interview that the vaccines were kept in the municipal health office’s freezer. However, a power outage occurred at about noon.
“Because of the brownout, the health workers and the police in charge of securing the vaccines decided to transfer the vials to the freezer of the Makilala police office,” Cañedo said
He added that the power supply from Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) was restored at about 2 PM on the same day.
However, no one managed to switch the electrical supply back on using the regular power source after the generator shut down and only discovered three days after.
The transportation of vaccines has been a challenge in Isabela City, Basilan as the city started its inoculation in March.
Isabela City Health Office Health Education and Promotion Officer Bernadita Hontucan said the availability of transportation in every vaccination team had always been a problem.
“We only have one ambulance that service the swabbers and disinfection and sanitizing teams who also perform their duties during this pandemic,” she said.
Hontucan said a new sea ambulance and speed boat were purchased to cater to the needs of the island constituents.
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The proliferation of disinformation about the vaccine is also a problem among the residents of the city.
“Our City of Isabela Has multi-diverse cultures. Cultural Barrier has been one even before COVID-19 vaccination. Immunization to any kind of disease has not been accepted in their community,” she said.
The health officer added that some people will only listen to the dictates of their religious leaders that is why there is a quite number of residents who are hesitant in getting the vaccine.
ARRIVAL OF VACCINE. The first batch of vaccines arrived at Isabela City, accompanied by a boat of Philippine National Police, March 8, 2021. Photo by Bernardita Hontucan.
Equal opportunity for vaccine
Natividad hopes that the government will act quickly to the rising COVID-19 cases in the province of Cagayan, particularly in the city of Tuguegarao.
“Sana magkaroon din ng aksyon ang gobyerno para mapabilis ang pagbaba ng bakuna rin po lalo na mataas ang kaso ng COVID 19,” she said.
(I hope the government also act in order to have a quick vaccination allotment especially for places that have high COVID-19 cases)
She also encouraged the people to get the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and don’t believe what they see online.
“Hindi naman ito ginawa para mapahamak tayo bagkus ay para sa proteksyon po natin kaya sana po ay hindi na maghesitate,” Natividad added.
(This is not made to endanger our lives but to protect us so we should not hesitate to take it)
Palo also asked the national government to also prioritize the provinces outside NCR in vaccination allotment due to the rising cases.
“Sana ay mabigyan lahat ng equal opportunity sa bakuna dahil lahat ay may kailangan nito. Nanganganib ang mga tao kung hindi agad sila mababakunahan at pataas nang pataas ang kaso sa lugar nila,” she said.
(I hope that all people will have an equal opportunity for the vaccine. People are in danger if they will not be vaccinated especially if the cases are getting higher)