The Department of Health (DOH) said 71.8 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as of August 5.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at a press briefing that more than 9.7 million people aged 12 to 17 together with 4.2 million children aged 5 to 11 have been fully vaccinated as part of the preparation for face-to-face classes.
She added that at least 16.4 million individuals have received shots under the “PinasLakas” campaign which aims to provide booster shots to 23.8 million Filipinos in the first 100 days of Marcos presidency.
Over 1.4 million Filipinos have already gotten their second booster shots.
Moreover, around 6.8 million senior citizens have already been jabbed against Covid-19.
“Makilahok at sumali na po sa PinasLakas campaign makareceive tayo ng ating first booster shot sa lalong madaling panahon dahil kapag bakunado protektado,” Vergeire said.
The DOH OIC said there is “no prioritization list” in vaccinating people against Covid-19.
“The very objective why we had prioritization before kasi po kulang pa yung bakuna natin nung naguumpisa tayo magpabakuna and that was about March 2021,” Vergeire said.
“Hanggang siguro po third quarter of 2021, pinapatupad natin yung prioritization dahil hindi ganoon kadami ang ating bakuna supplies noon. Pero ngayon po na we have enough supplies, supplies are sufficient until the end of this year,” she added.
Vergeire said that eligible residents are advised to visit their respective local government offices to get vaccinated.
“Lahat ng tinatawag nating eligible population maari nang magpabakuna, actually wala na tayong schedules ngayon sa mga local governments kapag kayo ay pumunta at magpapabakuna kahit walk-in babakunahan kayo, as long as you are eligible,” she said.
— Ronald Espartinez