Abalos: Over 6.2-million NCR residents already fully vaxxed

Vaccines are administered at a vaccination site in Metro Manila. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Around 63 percent or more than 6.2 million Metro Manila residents are already fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said Friday.

Abalos said that as of September 17, around 63 percent of Metro Manila residents are already fully vaccinated while 86 percent have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

He said around 80 percent of Metro Manila residents are expected to be fully vaccinated by mid-October. 

“If we’re looking at one month from now, it could be 79 to 80 percent ng buong kalakhang Maynila (of the entire Metro Manila),” Abalos said in an interview with Teleradyo.

According to Abalos, more than 14,682,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Metro Manila. Of this number, more than 8.4 million are first doses and around 6.2 million are second doses.

“Kung titingnan natin ‘yung first dose na 8.4 million o 86 percent, magse-second dose pa sila which is one month from now kasi kung Sputnik ka, kung Pfizer ka, in 21 days papangalawa ka,” Abalos said.

(If we will look at it, 8.4 million or 86 percent have received their first dose. They will take their second dose a month from now because if you’re vaccinated with Sputnik and Pfizer, your second dose is given after 21 days.)

“Kung Sinovac, Moderna, Sinopharm, 28 days so kinompute namin… siguro mga October 16, more or less 7.7 million na approximately ang dalawa na ang bakuna o kulang-kulang 79 to 80 percent ng Metro Manila,” he added.

(If you were given Sinovac, Moderna, or Sinopharm, it’s 28 days. So we computed it and maybe around October 16, more or less 7.7 million are already fully vaccinated or around 79 to 80 percent of Metro Manila.)

Abalos said Metro Manila mayors are working hard to ensure the smooth implementation of the vaccination program.

/MUF