The Philippines is planning to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) by the year 2023, according to Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Monday.
“Itong herd immunity, we are looking to finish all of the targeted population based on the plan that has been approved, by 2023,” she said during an online press briefing.
Herd immunity is a concept where people are immune to a virus through vaccination. This process is one of the scientific ways to end the spread of any type of virus.
Vergeire also mentioned that the country can successfully reach herd immunity even before 2023.
Last year, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine czar, said that the national government is planning to vaccinate 75 to 80 percent of the country’s population to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19.
The Philippines is set to roll out the Covid-19 vaccines this month. Health workers from the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Lung Center of the Philippines and East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, and Dr. Jose Natalio Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (Tala Hospital) in Caloocan City will be the first batch of recipients. Ronald dela Cruz