PH among last in Asia to get COVID-19 herd immunity? Baseless, says DOH

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Department of Health)

MANILA, Philippines — There is no basis to declare that the Philippines would become among the last in Asia to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

Duque slammed what he called “self-proclaimed experts” when asked to comment on United Kingdom-based think tank Pantheon Macroeconomics’ findings that the country might be among last along with Vietnam to achieve herd immunity.

“There is no basis for that statement of the self-proclaimed experts. I don’t know where they are coming from,” Duque said in a press conference.

Duque noted that the Philippines’ target is to administer 500,000 jabs daily which it can achieve in just 140 days.

“I think they should review their math or their calculator probably doesn’t have good batteries. Now, if we are targeting 70 million Filipinos, you divide that by 500,000 jabs so you will be able to accomplish it in 140 days, it will be exactly 70 million for the first dose,” Duque said.

“And the second dose, you probably need about two, three months because we have to take into consideration that there is a variable time interval between the first and the second doses like AstraZeneca, you need 12 weeks before you can actually jab the second dose,” he went on.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also disputed the think tank’s report saying the Philippines “will prove them wrong.”  

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