Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 21) — San Juan City on Wednesday started administering the one-shot Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine to its residents as local officials aim for herd immunity by next month.
The city received 2,800 doses donated by the United States through the World Health Organization’s COVAX Facility.
Some of the individuals who got the J&J shot said they preferred it than other brands because it only takes one dose to get fully vaccinated.
“Para walang hassle! Convenient para sa akin [So there won’t be a hassle. It is convenient for me],” a 66-year-old vaccinee told CNN Philippines.
Vaccination teams said the J&J shots are also easier to handle since they can be stored at refrigerator temperatures.
“Compared sa Pfizer, wala na siyang diluent na kailangan so as it is, na ‘yun dineliver ‘yan samin linagay lang namin sa 2-8 (degree) na ref and then it will last for three months,” San Juan City health officer Dr. Rosalie Sto. Domingo said.
[Translation: Compared to Pfizer, it does not need a diluent so as it is, we would store the delivered vaccines in a 2-8 degree refrigerator and then it will last for three months.]
As of this morning, over 109,000 San Juan residents got their first dose while 43,000 have been fully vaccinated.
“We only need 53 percent or 49,155 vaccinees to achieve herd immunity,” San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said.
Zamora said with a steady supply of vaccines, San Juan could reach herd immunity by end of August.
