QC gov’t vaccinates 20% of target population, says it can finish in 4 months

Vaccination held at Smart Araneta in Quezon City. Photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday said that 20 percent of the city’s target population has already been vaccinated against COVID-19, adding that the city can finish inoculating the rest in four months.

According to Belmonte, 377,000 QC residents have already been vaccinated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while 97,000 have already completed the two doses.

“So medyo on track naman po tayo (so we are pretty much on track), ‘yung (the) 377,000 that is already equivalent to about 20 percent of our target population na 1.7 million,” Belmonte said.

“Ito pong 1.7 million represents 80 percent of the adult population of our city,” she added.

This number, however, will increase once the national government allows the inoculation of teenagers.

Belmonte explained that once children and teenagers are included in the inoculation efforts, the total target population will increase to 2.2 million.

“But given that, kakayanin naman po natin; matatagalan lang onti ng ilan pang buwan (we can still do it, it would just take a few more months),” assured Belmonte.

The mayor said that QC is currently targeting to vaccinate at least 24,000 a day.

“With the old target of 1.7 million we can finish in 4 months, and kung gawin nating 2.2 million kasama ang mga 12 year olds to 7 year olds ay magiging 6 months po ‘yan (but if it increases to 2.2 million with the inclusion of 12 year olds to 7 year olds, we can be done in 6 months),” Belmonte said.

Meanwhile, as of June 6, health experts reported that the total number of COVID-19 infections in the Philippines has reached 1,269,478, with 59,337 active cases, 1,188,243 recoveries and 21,898 deaths.

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JE