Palace says total vaccination of Filipinos may reach 35% by August

MANILA, Philippines — Some 35 percent of the Philippines’ estimated 110 million population may be vaccinated against COVID-19 by August, Malacañang said Monday.

“Scientists have said that the vaccination drive will have an impact kapag ang nabakunahan na natin around 35 percent of the population at wala pa po tayo doon,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

(Scientists have said that the vaccination drive will have an impact if we vaccinate around 35 percent of our population and we’re not there yet.)

“Makakamit po siguro natin itong 35 percent on or about the month of August kung masusunod yung simulation na pinaplano po ng gobyerno,” he added.

(We will achieve this 35 percent maybe on or about the month of August if the simulation the government is planning will be followed.)

The government is eyeing to prioritize key areas that have high COVID-19 cases in the vaccination drive, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said.

These key areas include Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Cebu and Davao.

As of May 15, over 2.9 million COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the Philippines.

Some 2.2 million individuals have received their first dose while more than 700,000 have completed both their first and second dose of the vaccine.

JPV