PH to achieve herd immunity by 2023? It’s better to achieve it earlier — Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo. (File) Screengrab from the Office of the Vice President website.

MANILA, Philippines — It’s better to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 earlier than the government’s target of 2023, Vice President Leni Robredo said Wednesday.

“Dapat ‘yong goal natin better than 2023 [It’s better that our goal is earlier than 2023],” Robredo said in a Q&A style video message posted on her Facebook page.

“Nakakapag-alala ‘yon kasi as of now, ang daming naghihirap na mga Pilipino, ang dami nang nawalan ng trabaho, so dapat ‘yong goal natin the faster na mabakunahan ang mas maraming tao,” she later said.

(It’s worrying because as of now, many Filipinos are suffering. Many have lost their jobs, so our goal is that to vaccinate a lot of people faster.)

Robredo’s statement comes after Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, spokesperson of the Department of Health, disclosed the government’s plan of achieving herd immunity in the country by 2023.

Herd immunity is a concept wherein a virus can no longer spread easily because enough people are made immune to it via vaccination.

Vergeire, however, said that reaching herd immunity before 2023 is possible.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine czar, said last year that the government intends to vaccinate 75 to 80 percent of the population to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19.

JPV