FILE PHOTO: Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Credit: Department of Health
MANILA, Philippines — Herd immunity will only be achieved once 70 percent of the country’s population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III explained Thursday.
“Fully vaccinated (with) 2 doses dapat, otherwise no such a thing as first dose herd immunity,” Duque told INQUIRER.net when sought to clarify whether herd immunity requires that at least 70 percent of the population are fully vaccinated.
The country’s vaccine manager Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the Philippines can administer first COVID-19 vaccine doses to 70 million people by November.
Galvez earlier said a “better Christmas” awaits Filipinos as herd immunity may be attained by the latter part of this year.
However, Duque has said the country may reach herd immunity in January 2022 at most, citing the adequacy of vaccine supply.
As of July 3, the government said over 3 million people were already fully vaccinated or have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country.