The National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 requests the Local Government Units (LGUs) to be patient with their distribution of vaccines throughout the country due to worldwide vaccine shortage and instead strengthen their ‘prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate’ (PDITR) strategy through a statement released earlier this afternoon, August 18, 2021.
The statement released on their social media goes to ensure the LGUs that there is adequate funding to procure enough vaccines to inoculate the target population.
“We would like to assure our LGUs that the national government has sufficient funds to procure the vaccines. In fact, we have already ordered more than enough doses for our target population so that we can make up for slippages or shortfalls in deliveries.”
It also explains that there is a shortage worldwide and most vaccine producers, such as Moderna and AstraZeneca, are not accepting vaccine orders through multiple-party agreements (MPAs).
“But we have to face the reality that vaccine makers are still not able to produce at a level that would meet the requirements of all nations. The issue is not just about having the resources to procure the vaccines but its limited supply in the world market,” according to the said statement.
Thus, the LGUs should relocate their allocated funds for vaccine procurement to enhance their preventative strategies in the fight against COVID-19.
“…we urge our LGUs to instead use the funds they have allocated for vaccine procurement for strengthening their prevent-detect-isolate-treat-reintegrate or PDITR strategy. This, along with COVID-19 vaccines, remain the best ways to contain and mitigate the impact of COVID-19.”
The official statement of the NTF COVID-19 was in response to the deep concerns expressed by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri stating that vaccine procurements “have not been signed and ‘put on hold.’”