FILE – A health worker (R) stands at the entrance of a COVID-19 vaccination center in Mandaluyong City, suburban Manila on July 15, 2021. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines— Close to six million residents in the National Capital Region have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Benhur Abalos told senators on Monday.
As of September 12, Abalos said 5.930 million people or about 60.5 percent of the 9.8 million target population in Metro Manila, had completed their vaccines doses.
There are now 8. 4 million people, or 85.73 percent of the target, who got their first dose, he pointed out during the Senate subcommittee on finance hearing on the proposed vaccination passport.
“After one month, those who would have the second dose in our projections will be about 79 percent of the population of Metro Manila,” added Abalos, who also sits as concurrent Metro Manila chairman.
By December 12, Abalos projected that the number of fully vaccinated people in the metropolis would be at 88.5 percent, noting that the second dose of Astrazenica vaccine is administered after three months.
READ: 52% of NCR target population fully vaccinated vs COVID-19 — Galvez
To achieve her immunity against Covid-19, the government initially planned to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the country’s adult population.
The government, however, is eyeing to further raise its vaccination target to 90 percent of the population due to the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus.