Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday said the city government will soon have its own supply of the much anticipated antiviral drug Bexovid, the world’s first generic version of Pfizer’s Paxlovid, which is used for treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19.
Updating the public via Facebook live, Moreno said the city’s application for a compassionate special permit (CSP) has been recently granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), allowing the city government to procure Bexovid.
Also, he said the City of Manila’s aggressive campaign to vaccinate and provide booster shots to as many people as possible amid the surge in COVID-19 achieved positive results, after more than 23,000 individuals took the jab on January 17, the highest figure registered since July of last year.
Domagoso made the disclosure after official data released by the Manila Health Department revealed that a total of 23,676 persons were vaccinated on Monday with either their first dose, second dose, or booster shot. Rey E. Requejo
“I am grateful to our friends at the FDA and they acted quickly on our application (for Bexovid). We can’t just use these drugs on COVID if we don’t have a CSP. With the agency’s approval, we can give it to patients when our advanced order arrives,” Moreno said.
The 47-year-old presidential aspirant said the antiviral drug will be made available to everyone in need, whether they are Manila residents or not. “Like our ‘open door’ policy, this innovative medicine can help anyone in need. There is no politics here because life is important,” he added.
According to reports, Bexovid may be used for individuals with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 from 12 years old and above. It can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 88 to 89 percent when taken within three to five days from the onset of symptoms.
Earlier, the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer also said the city of Manila has placed an advanced order of Paxlovid from Pfizer, which was first authorized for use in the United States.
Pfizer is expected to apply for the emergency use authorization of its antiviral drug in the Philippines by the last week of January, according to FDA.
The procurement of the latest available anti-COVID medicine was just one of the many initiatives of the city government to control the spread of the virus and save people’s lives from the highly contagious disease.
Moreno has reiterated that non-Manila residents can avail of anti-COVID drugs from the Manila Health Department, which have sufficient supplies of Remdesivir, Tolicizumab, Baricitinib and Molnupiravir, the medicine currently in demand amid the current surge in COVID cases.
Since the surge of COVID-19 cases due to Omicron variant started early this month, Moreno and the Manila City government has embarked on an aggressive vaccination strategy by opening drive-thru vaccination sites at the Kartilya ng Katipunan for motorcycle riders employed by courier services; Luneta drive-thru booster shots for 4-wheel vehicles and the drive-thru booster shot at the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila for drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) including delivery vans.
Moreno has also urged returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and returning Filipinos infected with COVID-19 to avail of the services and resources being provided by the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital in Luneta Park.
He made the call after learning through news reports that returning OFWs and returning Filipinos are requesting that they be provided with free quarantine isolation if they turned out positive with COVID-19 in order for them not to incur additional expenses.
“Last December 31, we offered the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital. In fact, more than a hundred plus of OFWs in one given time were accommodated. So, if for example, you are coming, returning to our country, you are welcome in Manila. We offer it for free. It’s air-conditioned there, like hospital beds, there’s a doctor, there’s a nurse, there’s oxygen, there’s medicine, then there’s food. Free food 3x a day. Then you don’t have to pay. For the OFWs, their savings, they can no longer be injured,” Moreno said.Moreno pointed out that OFWs and returning Filipinos who intend to avail of the services being provided by the Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital should just inform the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) that they should not be brought to hotels.
“Sabihin nyo lang sa Bureau of Quarantine na huwag na kayong dalhin sa hotel. Pwede naman kayong mag-request eh. Hanggang kaya namin, tutulong kami,” he said.
The 344-bed capacity Manila COVID-19 Field Hospital was built in a record 52 days as part of Mayor Isko’s plan to combat COVID infections by providing sufficient hospital care with available medicines for patients having mild and moderate symptoms.
Moreno said providing OFWs and returning Filipinos with free isolation facility is their way of saying “Thank You” to those who provided the City of Manila with financial assistance.
“Because as we all know, many immigrants and OFWs helped in Manila. They sent us money the other day. It is said that whatever you plant, you will reap,” he said.
The good thing about Manila right now, according to Moreno, is that they are managing quite well the COVID-19 situation through the conduct of non-stop testing, vaccinations and booster shot of residents and even non-residents.
Moreno said he expects the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila to be fully operational by either April or May of this year.
“I just put this emergency room first, just in case, God forbid, although Manila still has a large capacity, but at least, a few months from now we’ll never know,” he said.
“Compatriots, good news. I think since November, this is our highest because we used to reach 40,000, 50,000 before. After that in November when we can reach the 100 plus percent, about 7,000, about 3,000 like that. Today, this is the largest today… 23,676 vaccines have been deployed in our city,” Moreno said.
According to Dr. Arnold Pangan, Manila Health Department director, the Jan. 17 figure is the highest vaccination registered in the city since a total of 44,584 people got the jab on July 31, 2021.
Two days before on Jan. 15, around 22,346 people were vaccinated while on Jan. 14, some 20,787 people got the jab.
The record high vaccination last Monday was partly due to the opening of more drive-thru inoculation sites that include the Kartilya ng Katipunan for motorcycle drivers and couriers; the Quirino Grandstand drive-thru for 4-wheel vehicles and the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila drive-thru for drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) including deliver vans.
Moreno gave a breakdown of the inoculation for minors aged 12-17 years: “It reached 1,053 for our first dose in minors and 546 for the second dose in minors. A total of 241,844 doses were deployed for our minors so a total of 130,452 in the first dose and 111,392 in the second dose were vaccinated in Manila City for minors.”
On Wednesday, Moreno opened the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden as the latest vaccination site for minors and senior citizens which will be open from 8 am to 8 pm daily.
“Minors 12 to 17-years-old first dose, minors 12 to 17-years-old second dose, and elderly whether they are guardians, parents, or those grandparents, my grandmother who want to get booster jabs. Now as we speak, our registration is live.”
“Go to www.manilazoo.ph and get your free ticket for 1,000 individuals. So that includes child one head ‘yun, one pack, suppose the number of children and the number of adults are just the same. Just 1,000 heads per day,” Moreno said.
Although entrance is free, Moreno asked those who will visit Manila Zoo and avail of their vaccination to bring their own food and water. He also asked visitors to discipline themselves and throw their trash on garbage bins place strategically inside the zoo.
Moreno said a total of 11,263 individuals received their booster shots last Jan. 17, thus giving them additional protection from COVID-19.
“So our total is 1,662,045 in the first dose and 1,527,311 (fully vaccinated). We are now at 156 percent of the original target of 70 percent of the Department of Health. The second dose reached 143 percent. More on double we are almost there on target. More than 3.1 million vaccines have been deployed in the City of Manila,” Moreno explained.
“(Up to) 273,341 individuals have been vaccinated with booster shots in less than one month. We are happy to serve you,” he added.
An update provided by Moreno based on data coming from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) revealed that as of 11 a.m. Tuesday (Jan. 18), a total of 12,203 individuals were able to receive their booster shots at the Luneta 24-hour drive-thru facility for 4-wheel vehicles which started operating on Jan. 13.
As of Jan. 18, a total of 13,032 individuals also got their booster shots via the drive-thru booster shot facility for motorcycle and bicycle riders at the Kartilya ng Katipunan since the caravan started last Jan. 6.
Moreno said a total of 668 individuals received booster shots through a similar facility set-up for tricycle, pedicab, kuliglig, jeepney and taxi drivers at the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila which was launched on Monday.
In view of the success of Manila’s intensive vaccination campaign, the 47-year-old Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer again reiterated that he has temporarily set aside his “Listening Tour” amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.
Instead of thinking about politics and the elections, the 47-year-old presidential aspirant said he would rather focus on the pandemic especially in combatting the current surge brought about by the highly-contagious Omicron variant.