Dr. Cesar Tomas Lopez revealed that he is still awaiting information about the arrival of the 2nd dose of the Sputnik V vaccine.
It can be remembered that the Sputnik V vaccine was the one inoculated to about 4,990 tourism workers back in June 2021.
During the weekly press conference on Sept. 3, 2021, it was bared that the Bohol Tourism Office said that the component 2 that will be used as 2nd dose for those given the Sputnik V jab has yet to arrive in the province.
Lopez told reporters during the press conference that he is constantly following up with the authorities in Manila about the arrival here of the 2nd component of the Sputnik V vaccine.
According to reports, unlike other vaccine a specific formulation of the vaccine should be used as 2nd dose.
The jab used as first dose cannot be used for the 2nd dose, the same reports said.
Those who were given the jabs are supposed to receive the 2nd dose in July, but there is still no word when the 2nd component will arrive here.
Lopez said that experts noted that the interval between the 1st and 2nd dose can be as long as 6 months, at most.
“Dunay official advisory sa atong Department of Health ug sa mga infectious specialists ug epidemiologists ang lugway, even after six months, maximum of six months gap from the 1st dose to the 2nd dose sa Sputnik pwede pa gihapon,” Lopez said.
He allayed the fears of those who received the 1st jab that they still can get the 2nd dose within six months, which has scientific basis.
Those who were given the 1st dose are not considered to be fully vaccinated.
It has been reported that around 15,000 doses of Sputnik V arrived in Manila on Aug. 31, 2021, but it was not mentioned where the jabs will be given or allocated.
Lopez said he is making an effort to follow up the allocation of component 2 of the jab.
The Sputnik V jab was given to tourism workers in a vaccination rollout held in Panglao in June 2021.