FILE PHOTO: A health worker receives the Sinovac Biotech’s Coronavac vaccine on the first day of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) inoculation drive in the Philippines, at the Lung Center of the Philippines, Quezon City, Metro Manila, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez
MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 70 percent of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila involved individuals who were not vaccinated against the disease, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Benhur Abalos said Monday.
According to Abalos’ presentation during an online event, there were 21,765 active COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila. Of this number, 15,130 or 69.52 percent involved individuals who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Of the 15,130 infections involving unvaccinated individuals, 9,843 are asymptomatic cases, 4,423 are mild, 572 are moderate, 92 are severe, and 18 are critical. Recent deaths among unvaccinated individuals, meanwhile, are at 182, said Abalos.
“Look at the deaths. Look at the critical, and look at the severe. This data speaks for themselves that really, it’s very important to get vaccinated,” Abalos said.
“Once we have everyone fully vaccinated, we could be more flexible with the plans that we set. We could really do that,” he added.
Abalos said that as of August 22, some 4,262,546 individuals are fully vaccinated in Metro Manila while 3,088,065 have received one dose.
The MMDA chief is hopeful that at least half of Metro Manila residents — or at least 4.9 million individuals–will be fully vaccinated by the end of the month. The target population for vaccination in the region is at 9.8 million.
Recent daily tallies showed that COVID-19 cases in the country range from 16,000 to 17,000 plus cases.