FIRST SHOT People who have yet to receive their COVID-19 vaccine get their first dose at a vaccination center set up at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City during the first day of the “Bayanihan Bakunahan,” the three-day national vaccination drive last December. —NIñO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The government is considering holding another national COVID-19 vaccination drive to ramp up the number of fully immunized individuals, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Wednesday.
“Well, pinag-aaralan na po natin ‘yan. ‘Yung binabanggit niyo na National Vaccination Days, it’s something na we might consider. Tingnan natin kung ano ‘yung magiging output nitong vaccination na demand generation na ginagawa po namin ngayon,” Nograles, also the acting presidential spokesperson, said on One News’ Balita Pilipinas.
(Well, we are studying that. The National Vaccination Days, it’s something that we might consider. Let’s see the output of our current vaccination.)
The government is targeting to fully vaccinate 77 million individuals by the first quarter of 2022. So far, around 56 million individuals are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in the country based on latest data from the Department of Health.
Nograles said that they may conduct another national vaccination program to reach the goal.
“But if we see the need, halimbawa, matatapos na ‘yung first quarter, halimbawa, ng 2022 at hindi pa natin nararating ‘yung 77 million na target natin, then perhaps it is one of the strategies na ico-consider natin,” he said.
(But if we see the need, for instance, the first quarter of 2022 will soon end and we have not fully vaccinated our 77-million target, perhaps it is one of the strategies that we may consider.)
The government first held a national vaccination drive, dubbed Bayanihan, Bakunahan, on November 29 to December 1 with some areas extending until December 3.
The second Bayanihan, Bakunahan commenced on December 15 with some areas starting at a later date as they reel from the impact of Typhoon Odette, the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country in 2021.