With the presence of the Delta variant
Photo: Borongan City Information Office
The provincial government of Eastern Samar has expanded their vaccination program against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after consulting with the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH).
The decision of the provincial government was made after the province recorded nine of the 10 confirmed Delta variant of Covid-19 in the region.
Of the nine confirmed Delta variant in the province, five were in Borongan City, three in Can-avid, and one in Arteche.
The confirmed Delta variant were from the 214 samples that were sent by the DOH to the Philippine Genome Center from samples collected in June to July, of which 53 Subjected for sequencing of which 10 turned out to have the Delta variant.
The DOH-8 said that all Delta variant cases had already recovered except for one case in Borongan City involving a 78-year old man due who died on July 3 due to lung cancer.
On the expanded COVID-19 vaccination program of the province, all A2 and A3 vaccinees will be accommodated with the Johnson and Johnson vaccines, with no quota for each priority group, granted that seniors and those from remote barangays will be prioritized in the vaccination site when they arrive.
Priority Group A4 (of any age) may be given the Janssen-manufactured vaccine as long as they accompany a senior to get vaccinated. This will be on a 1:1 basis. Only one Priority A4 is eligible for vaccination for each senior brought to be vaccinated.
In local government units where there are reported cases of Delta variant (Arteche, Can-avid, Borongan City) Priority Group A4 (of any age) may be given a non-COVAX (nationally-procured) vaccine, provided that those belonging to Groups A1-A3 will still be given preference in the vaccination site when they arrive, and a special lane is advised for Priority Group A2.
The province also said that due to vaccine supply issues and in compliance to DOH DM 2020-0259, Priority Group A4 (aged 40-59) may be given a non-COVAX (nationally-procured) vaccine in the LGUs without a documented Delta Variant, provided that Priority Groups A1-A3 will still be given preference in the vaccination site when they arrive.
Direct donation to a local government unit or private company-purchased vaccines may be given to any priority groups as stipulated in the Deed of Donation or the company guidelines and this should be coordinated with the Provincial Health Office for proper cold chain storage.
Pre-registration and pre-scheduled vaccination is highly encourage for the LGU to implement to those who plans to be vaccinated to avoid crowding in vaccination sites.
Based on the record of the DOH in the region on COVID-19 vaccination program, Eastern Samar province has already received 84, 606 vaccines, of which 35, 865 of the 50, 303 allocated for first dose has already been administered, while 25, 302 of the 34, 303 vaccines for second dose has been administered.
Further, the provincial government starting Monday, August 2, is also imposing a no vaccination card no entry policy to all those who will enter the provincial capitol building.
For those who has transaction at the provincial capitol and has no vaccination card, they may undergo an antigen test for free at the testing area located near the provincial capitol building.
Meantime, DOH Regional Director Exuperia Sabalberino said a team from their office have went to the province to conduct their investigation.
“The local government units are already informed and in fact ginagawa na nila. But this time we need to intensify like yung contact tracing, ang availability ng mga temporary treatment and monitoring facility, and also our hospitals are already informed how to prepare once the presence of Delta variant is recorded in the region. All hospitals are now toward ensuring preparedness,” Sabalberino said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
