57.5M Covid vax shots given; 26.5M Pinoys now fully vaxxed

MANILA – A total of 57,494,154 doses of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine have been administered nationwide since the rollout began in March, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

Latest data from the National Vaccines Operation Center showed that 95.2 percent or 1,560,938 of the 1,638,917 healthcare workers have been fully vaccinated while 56.22 percent or 4,640,338 of the target 8,254,531 senior citizens have completed their doses.

In an online media briefing, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said healthcare workers and senior citizen registered a “high” total numbers of fully vaccinated because of the one-shot Janssen vaccine.

“Ang 57.4 million jabs na ito ay (These 57.4 million jabs are) broken down to 31,015,216 first doses and 26,479,028 second doses,“ Cabotaje said.

Although the number of fully vaccinated senior citizens are high, Cabotaje said there is a need to vaccinate more of the older population and the A5 category or the indigents.

For the individuals with comorbidities, about 80.01 percent or 7,219,174 of the target 9,023,070 population are fully-vaccinated.

For the frontline personnel in essential sector, about 31.44 percent or 28,300,410 target individuals have received their second jab.

Meantime 2,838,535 or 21.99 percent of the 12,911,193 poor people are now fully-vaccinated.

“Nagumpisa na rin po tayo ng (We have started with the) rest of the adult population, 18 and above, 1,165,171 first dose and 323,412 two doses,” Cabotaje said.

She added that for the pediatric vaccination of those with comorbidities, a total of 23,727 minors have received their life-saving shots as of October 27.

The national government is keeping its goal to achieve population protection before this year ends, raising the initial target of 70 percent or 77 million eligible population to 80 to 90 percent or about 88 million.

As of October 28 noon, the Philippines has a total of 99,551,290 vaccine doses.