Vaccines for Filipinos Enough to get Herd Immunity?

The Philippine government wants to achieve herd immunity by the end of 2021 by ordering at least 148 million doses of vaccines from various pharmaceutical companies.  To achieve herd immunity, at least 70 percent of the population should be vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to Carlito Galvez Jr., the country's vaccine czar,  the bulk of deliveries will start on April.  The government can now start massive vaccination on the 2nd quarter of the year, assuming that there will be no more hurdles in the procurement, delivery, and supply. During this period, they expect that all frontliners and those in the priority list already received their first shot of the vaccine. The supply will come from  Sinovac (China), AstraZeneca, Novavax, Moderna,  Johnson and Johnson (Janssen Pharmaceutical), and the Gamaleya Research Institute (Russia). 

Here's the breakdown of the number of vaccines that were delivered (Q1) and additional vaccine doses for the succeeding quarters:

There will be at least 3,504,800 doses for the 1st quarter.

February 28 - 600,000 Sinovac doses donated by China 

March 4 - 487,200 AstraZeneca doses from COVAX

March 7 - 38,400 AstraZeneca doses from COVAX

March 24 - 400,000 Sinovac doses donated by China 

March 24 to 26 - 979,200 AstraZeneca doses from COVAX

March 29 - 1 million Sinovac doses purchased by government 

At least 26,294,000 doses of vaccines are expected to arrive on the 2nd quarter of the year.

April 2021

Sinovac - 1.5 to 2 million doses 

Gamaleya’s Sputnik V - 3 million doses

COVAX vaccines - 1 million doses

May 2021 

Sinovac - 2 million doses

Gamaleya - 3 million doses

AstraZeneca -2.6 million doses

COVAX vaccines - 1 million doses

Moderna - 194,000 doses

June 2021  

Sinovac -4.5 million doses

Gamaleya - 4 million doses

Novavax - 1 million doses

AstraZeneca - 2 million doses 

A total of 53.5 million doses of vaccines will arrive in the country on the 3rd Quarter.

July 2021

Sinovac - 3 million doses 

Gamaleya - 4 million doses 

Moderna - 1 million doses 

Novavax - 2 million doses 

J&J - 1.5 million doses 

AstraZeneca - 2 million doses 

August 2021

20 million doses 

September 2021

20 million doses 

For the 4th quarter, the government will received at least 60 million doses. No breakdown yet on the sources of these vaccines.

October 2021

20 million doses 

November 2021

20 million doses 

December 2021

20 million doses 

The Philippines is way behind its Asian neighbors when it comes to the number of people who already got their first vaccine dose. Skeptics are now saying that the government will not be able to achieve herd immunity because of the delays in the procurement of the government. #NasaanangBakuna even became a trending topic in popular social media sites.

COVID Deaths of High-Profile BUCOR Inmates Suspicious

Government's key witness against Sen. Leila de Lima died of COVID19 

A recent report that there were several high-profile BUCOR inmates have died due to COVID-19 is highly suspicious. One of them is Jayvee Sebastian, who is a key witness against Senator Leila de Lima. Sebastian was cremated last Saturday at the Panteon de Dasmarinas Public Cemetery in Dasmarinas, Cavite. The death certificate showed that he died of acute myocardial infarction or heart attack related to COVID-19.

Several High-profile Chinese Inmates COVID19 Deaths

Several high-profile Chinese inmates were also among those who allegedly died of COVID-19 while inside the penitentiary. Chinese inmates Zhang Zhu Li, Jimmy Kinsing Hung, Francis Go, Jimmy Yang, Eugene Chua, and Ryan Ong were all cremated due to coronavirus infection. These people have been arrested for drug-related offenses.


The leader of Chinese inmates, Benjamin Marcelo and Amin Imam Buratong are also among the fatalities. Buratong is the operator of the shabu tiangge in Pasig City in 2009.

COVID Deaths at NBP Under Investigation 

The deaths of these inmates have raised questions about the real cause of their deaths. According to reports, an investigation is now being conducted to get the real story about this COVID-19 DEATHS. The police investigator, who declined to be named, was alarmed about how BUCOR handled the inmates' deaths. One issue is possible body-switching since they were immediately cremated. Cadavers of COVID patients must be cremated within 24 hours based on current health protocols.


The BUCOR'S silence on these COVID19 deaths has raised more questions. The inmates were convicted for drug related crimes so they have the money and connections. Some netizens said that fake-deaths could be possible. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra had ordered BuCor chief Gerald Bantag to explain the alleged deaths of high-profile prisoners at NBP.

IATF Approves Motorcycle Backride, But What?

Starting July 10, backride in motorcycles will now be allowed in GCQ (General Community Quarantine) and MGCQ (Modified General Community Quarantine) areas. The IATF has yet to issue a comprehensive guideline about the new policy but already reiterated that it will only allow husband, wife, or living-in partner as backride. Other members of the family are not yet allowed even if they reside in the same home. According to Spokesperson Harry Roque, couples should present a copy of their marriage certificate or ID's for living-in partners.

While this is a positive development, netizens were dismayed about the other conditions set by the IATF. According to DILG Sec Ano, motorcycle owners should install a protective barrier that will serve as an effective protection against COVID-19 transmission. The design which was proposed by Governor Yap of Bohol was adopted by the IATF as the standard model or design. The specifications were already posted online so those interested can now have it custom-made for their specific motorcycle units.

If you are a motorcycle owner, would you install this protective barrier on your unit? Is it safe? Is aerodynamics considered in the prototype design? Is this an effective method of protection against COVID-19? Remember, they only allowed married couples or living-in partners. Do we really need more bright people in the government?

Covid-19 ECQ and GCQ Areas After May 15

The IATF on COVID-19 approved Resolution #35  outlining the specific areas to be placed under extended ECQ after May 15, 2020. Also included in the resolution, which is still subject to the approval of President Duterte, are areas and regions that will be put on GCQ or General Community Quarantine.

Meanwhile, the ECQ or GCQ will be lifted in regions that were classified as Low Risk areas.


1. Low Risk (Minimum Health Standards, no GCQ or ECQ)

a. Region I - entire
b. Region IV-B - entire
c. Region V - entire
d. Region VI - entire
e Region VIII - entire
f. Region X - entire
g. Region XII - entire
h. ARMM - entire


2. Moderate (GCQ)

a. Region II - entire
b. Region III - entire
c. Region IV-A - entire except Laguna
d. CAR - entire
e. Region VII - entire except Cebu
f. Region IX - entire
g. Region XI - entire
h. Region XIII - entire


3. High (ECQ)

a. Laguna (Region IV-A)
b. NCR
c. Cebu City (Region VII)

The entire NCR, Laguna, and Cebu City will be placed under extended ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) because of the high number of COVID-19 positive cases.