KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato -- Senior citizens (Priority Group A2) and persons with co-morbidity (A3) in geographical isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in Region 12 are being prioritized in vaccination using Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
The Department of Health -- Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) SOCCSKSARGEN Region downloaded 140,900 doses of J&J's Janssen vaccine to provincial and city health offices Monday (July 26).
"For Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccines, please consider prioritizing the Priority Groups A2 (Senior Citizens) and A3 (Persons with Co-Morbidities) in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), but you may also inoculate target recipients from densely populated areas," DOH-CHD XII Director Aristides Concepcion Tan told provincial, city and municipal health officers, EPI coordinators, and development management officers in RVOC Advisory No. 143.
GIDA, according to the DOH definition, refers to communities with marginalized population physically and socio-economically separated from the mainstream society. These are communities that are isolated due to distance, weather conditions, and transportation difficulties and are characterized by high poverty incidence, presence of vulnerable sectors. It also includes communities in or recovering from situation of crisis or armed conflict.
Arjohn Gangoso, health education and promotion officer II of DOH-CHD XII said giving preference to target A2 and A3 in GIDAs in Janssen inoculation is due to its attribute as a single-dose vaccine.
"J&J's Janssen vaccine is a single-dose vaccine. Thus, using Janssen vaccine in COVID-19 vaccination in GIDA barangays means that the requirement for our vaccinators to gather target vaccinees, our senior citizens and persons with co-morbidity, for their second dose is eliminated," Gangoso explained during demand generation orientation with information officers and hospital HEPOs of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato provinces last week.
This also means, Gangoso added, that teams will only visit target remote barangays only once for vaccination.
Other COVID-19 vaccines deployed in SOCCSKSARGEN Region, namely: Sinovac's CoronaVac, Oxford AstraZeneca, and Gamaleya Sputnik V, require two doses for vaccinees to be fully vaccinated.
The 140,900 doses of J&J vaccine were distribute to General Santos City (7,800 doses), North Cotabato (10,650), South Cotabato (23,000), Sarangani (20,500), and Sultan Kudarat (38,950).
Part of Sultan Kudarat Province's allocation were delivered to the coastal municipalities: Kalamansig (5,000) Lebak (5,000), and Palimbang (500).
Following DOH's six-day campaign local vaccination teams are encouraged to consume the vaccines delivered on Monday by July 31.
Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drugs Administration Philippines on April 19, 2021 for use to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years old or older. (PIA XII)
