64M Filipinos fully vaccinated vs. Covid-19: NVOC

MANILA – About 64 million Filipinos are already fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a health official said Thursday.

National Vaccinations Operations Center Chief Myrna Cabotaje said the government has administered some 137 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, including 10.7 million booster shots, as of March 9.

“Nag-set tayo ng milestone. Ang milestones natin ngayon (We have set milestones. These include) 70 million fully vaccinated by March. And then, 90 million Filipinos, fully vaccinated by the end of June 2022,” she said in a media forum.

As for the booster shots, Cabotaje reiterated they can only be given to fully vaccinated individuals who are 18 years old and above.

There are no booster shots recommended for 17 years old and below here and abroad as experts are still studying how long the protection from vaccines would last in the primary host, she said.

Nonetheless, she said, the vaccination coverage of children aged 12 to 17 years old in the country is good. The age group inoculation started on Nov. 21, 2021.

Vaccine Expert Panel Chief Dr. Nina Gloriani earlier said other countries are already studying the possibility of giving booster shots to the immunocompromised who belong to such an age group.

To increase these numbers, the national government held the 4th National Vaccination drive from March 10 to 12 with the target to inoculate 1.8 million people.

The focus of the ongoing inoculation activities includes the A2 population or the senior citizens and areas with low vaccination rate, particularly Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Central Visayas, Soccsksargen, and Bicol Region.