Over 2.2 million people get booster, add’l doses of COVID jabs as of Jan 4

This photo shows people who just received vaccination against COVID-19. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — More than 2.2 million booster and additional doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines were furthermore administered nationwide, acting presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday citing the latest national COVID-19 vaccination data.

During the Palace press briefing, Nograles presented the recent national COVID-19 vaccination information and said 2,207,941 people have received their COVID-19 vaccine booster and additional doses as of January 4.

This report comes as the Philippines posted the full inoculation of 50,627,196 people, representing 65.63 percent of the 77 million population which the government targets to vaccinate against COVID-19 and achieve so-called herd immunity.

Of the fully immunized people, 46,620,754 received a two-dose jab while 4,006,442 received the single-shot Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. On the other hand, people who have received one dose were at 61,260,924 or 79.42 percent of the target population.

READ: Over 50 million persons in PH fully vaccinated vs COVID-19 — Galvez

Nograles called on the public anew to get vaccinated for added protection against SARS-CoV-2, the latest coronavirus strain that causes serious respiratory illness COVID-19.

“Let me again reiterate to our unvaccinated kababayans, tara na at magpabakuna. Huwag na itong ipagpaliban. Lahat ng bakuna ay ligtas, epektibo, at libre po,” he appealed.

(Let me again reiterate to our unvaccinated fellow citizens, let us get vaccinated. Do not let this pass. All vaccines are safe, effective, and free.)

“Vaccines are free and have been proven to be safe and effective. The numbers clearly show how these can prevent serious cases of COVID,” reiterated Nograles.

The Palace official likewise noted that 85 percent of those in hospital intensive care units are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

“Eighty-five percent po ng COVID patients sa ating ICUs or intensive care units ay mga unvaccinated. Kaya malaking tulong ang bakuna para ma-protektahan kayo laban sa COVID-19 at ang mga variant nito,” Nograles said.

(Eighty-five percent of COVID patients in ICUs are unvaccinated. So, vaccines are a big help to protect against COVID-19 and its variants.)

Nograles also encouraged fully immunized individuals to get a booster shot.

“Sa mga fully vaccinated na, i-schedule niyo na po ang booster shots ninyo para sa dagdag proteksyon,” he said.

(To those who are fully vaccinated, schedule your booster shots now for additional protection.)

“There are supplies available so much so that there are now even LGUs that offer booster shots to non-residents,” he noted.

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