A senior citizen in Bulacan is jabbed against COVID-19 during the three-day nationwide vaccination drive. (File photo by Carmela Reyes-Estrope)
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has crossed the 100 millionth mark of administering vaccines against COVID-19, the government announced on Friday night.
As of December 16, the country has administered a total of 100,019,137 vaccines doses, with over 43 million individuals now fully vaccinated.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this milestone “sparks hope” that the country could overcome the new coronavirus pandemic.
“This gargantuan milestone is a huge turnaround from the scarcity of vaccine supplies we have once faced at the beginning of our vaccination program,” Duque said in a statement.
For his part, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government will make sure that the country has enough vaccine supply to sustain the momentum.
“With the commencement of the second round of Bayanihan Bakunahan, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to get fully-vaccinated,” Galvez said.
The second leg of the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” will begin on Thursday, but the implementation of the program was postponed in Bicol, Mimaropa, Visayas, and Mindanao, and will resume from December 20 to 22.
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