1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in first 4 days of 3rd nat’l vax drive

File photo taken on 2020 shows residents of Hamtic, Antique at the  COVID-19 vaccination site at the University of Antique during the government’s three-day national vaccination drive in December 2021. (PHOTO FROM DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-WESTERN VISAYAS FACEBOOK PAGE)

MANILA, Philippines — The government has so far administered 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses on the first four days of the third national vaccination drive dubbed Bayanihan, Bakunahan, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje reported Monday.

The figure, however, is still way off the government’s target of five million doses.

The vaccination drive, initially set from February 10 to 11, was extended until February 18 to immunize more people.

“As of kahapon, mayroon tayong 1.5 million na nabakunahan sa Bayanihan, Bakunahan o NVD (National Vaccination Days) 3,” Cabotaje said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

(As of yesterday, we have vaccinated 1.5 million during the Bayanihan, Bakunahan or NVD.)

To date, 61.4 million individuals are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  Some nine million received their booster dose.

“Ang ating fully vaccinated ay 61.4 million na tayo tapos may nine million na po tayo na nagkaroon ng boosters,” Cabotaje said.

(The number of fully vaccinated people is now at 61.4 million then there are nine million who got their booster shot.)

Cabotaje said that of the 9.4 million target in the A2 priority group, which is composed of senior citizens, 2.5 million remain unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, out of the 14.5 million target in the A3 priority group, or persons with comorbidities, 222,000 have not received a single dose yet.

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