Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. Senate PRIB file photo / Joseph Vidal
MANILA, Philippines — The drop in COVID-19 infections due to vaccinations could be seen by October or November once the majority of individuals in highly urbanized cities like Metro Manila have been vaccinated, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.
“Ang nakikita natin kapag once nabakunahan natin majority ng mga affected na tinatawag nating highly urbanized cities like Metro Manila, kapag nakuha natin iyan nakikita natin na siguro by October or November nakikita natin iyong epekto niya talaga, na talagang bababa talaga iyong kaso niya,” he said in a Palace briefing.
(Once the majority of those living in highly urbanized cities like Metro Manila are vaccinated, the result may reflect in October or November, we see that it will cause the drop in cases.)
For now, Galvez urged the public to continue strictly practicing minimum public health standards, as well as following quarantine protocols.
He earlier said the Philippines is expected to receive at least 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines of various brands in this second quarter of 2021.
A total of 500,000 doses of CoronaVac, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, are expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.
For his part, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque reminded those who are already vaccinated to still practice wearing face masks and shields, washing hands, and social distancing.
The Philippines is currently facing an alarming surge of COVID-19 infections, prompting the government to reimpose strict quarantine protocols in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces.