MANILA, Philippines — The number of individuals in the country who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 has breached the 50 million mark, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Friday.
This is four million short of the government’s target of fully inoculating 54 million by the end of 2021.
Galvez said the target can be met by the first or second week of January 2022.
“Na-breach na natin ‘yung 50 million. Yung 54 million, kung ita-translate natin ‘yan, parang na-delay lang tayo ng one week or two weeks sa ating vaccination because nagkaroon tayo ng disastrous event na ‘yung Odette, malaki, anim na regions ang tinamaan. Kung sana hindi tinamaan ‘yun, baka nakaya natin ‘yung 54 million,” he said in a press briefing in Manila.
(We have breached 50 million. It means we were delayed in our vaccinations by one week or two weeks because of Typhoon Odette, which hit six regions. If Odette did not happen, we would have reached the target of 54 million.)
“Yung four million na ‘yun, one week makakaya namin ‘yan sa first quarter or first month kahit first week or second week ng January, makukuha natin ‘yan,” Galvez added.
Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr.. (PALACE FILE PHOTO / JOEY DALUMPINES)
(We can achieve the remaining 4 million from the goal in the first quarter or first month, or even in the first week or second week of January.)
Galvez said the Philippines has so far received around 210 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the government is now prioritizing vaccinating the remaining 1.5 million senior citizens who have yet to receive a dose.
It is also focused on administering booster shots to healthcare workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.