THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) is unhappy with the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to Pangasinan.

This was bared by PHO chief Dr. Anna de Guzman during the Question Hour of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on August 2 when asked by Vice Gov. Mark Lambino about the volume of vaccines being delivered to the province.

De Guzman said Pangasinan only received 6,509 doses last week of July and  the Department of Health had not committed any additional vaccine supplies to Pangasinan since.

She said the  DOH’s policy for vaccine distribution is based on the community quarantine status of a particular area and priority is given where number of COVID-19 cases are highest, and the availability of ultra-cold storage facilities for vaccines (specifically for the Pfizer vaccine).

Also among the criteria she said is the size of the population –  the bigger the population the bigger community transmission of the virus is expected, and the capacity of hospitals and  isolation or quarantine facilities.

In sum, De Guzman said out of the estimated 1.9 million eligible population for vaccination in Pangasinan, only 17 percent (or 335,000 individuals) have been be inoculated. (Jerick Pasiliao)