The Philippine government is aiming to inoculate six million people in the third phase of its “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday said the third leg of the vaccination drive would mainly be for the administration of booster jabs and the inoculation of senior citizens and minors.

“Ang intention po natin, Mr. President, ay makapagtala po tayo ng two million individuals for primary doses at four million doses for boosters,” Galvez told President Rodrigo Duterte during the latter’s “Talk to the People” address.

“So we will recommend, Mr. President, na we have to push for the administration of boosters to provide additional layers of protection kasi po darating po ang araw talagang after three months to six months, mayroon na pong waning effect ang ating mga vaccine,” Galvez added.

More than 59.8 million individuals have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations as of Feb. 8.

Eight million have received booster doses.

Galvez earlier said the government was eyeing to provide 72.16 million booster doses to Filipinos by year-end.

The country launched two national vaccination drives in the last two months of 2021. John Ezekiel J. Hirro