Gov’t targets to vaccinate 8.3M more until PRRD ends term

MANILA – The government is eyeing to vaccinate 8.3 million more to reach its target of 77 million by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term on June 30.

At the “Laging Handa” public briefing on Tuesday, National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje reported that to date, 68.7 million Filipinos have received two primary doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Another 4.5 million are due for second doses.

“We will do our best to reach the 77 million fully vaccinated by June 30. Hiniling din ito ng ating Secretary of Health sa regional directors noong nagpulong-pulong kami (Our Secretary of Health already requested that from regional directors when we had our meeting),” she said, citing the need to make sure those who received their first jabs will complete their primary series.

Cabotaje also said the government still needs to vaccinate some five million aged 5 to 11 and about one million in the 12 to 17 age group.

She assured the government has enough supply of 15 million reformulated doses for the 5 to 11 bracket as well as regular doses for the remaining unvaccinated adult population.

“We will monitor every week to at least get the target, if not get closer to 77 million,” Cabotaje said.

Of the total fully vaccinated, more than 13.6 million have received their first booster shots.

For now, the second booster is for immunocompromised adults only.