Gov’t may fail to reach 5-M target on 3rd nat’l vax drive, DOH admits

COVID-19 vaccination drive in Cebu City. Image from Facebook / Cebu City Medical Center

MANILA, Philippines — The government may fail to achieve its 5-million target for administered COVID-19 vaccine doses on its third national vaccination drive dubbed “Bayanihan, Bakunahan.”

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said Thursday that of the 5-million target, around 2.6 million doses have so far been given to vaccinees.

“Medyo matumal pa rin. We are reaching about 2.6 million pa lang. Eh dalawang araw na lang, ngayon at saka bukas. Kailangan paspasan pa,” she said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

(It is quite slow. We are reaching about 2.6 million so far. Only two days are left, today and tomorrow. We have to intensify it.)

“So, baka hindi natin maabot ‘yung ating five million na target nung dalawang araw sana last week tapos in-extend natin,” she continued.

(So, we may not be able to reach our five-million target initially set two days last week which was already extended.)

The third Bayanihan, Bakunahan was initially set on February 10 to 11, but was extended until February 18 to ramp up the vaccination program.

According to Cabotaje, the public does not see the “urgency” yet to get a booster shot.

“Medyo hindi pa ganu’n kabilis ang pagtanggap, especially the booster. Nakikita nilang importante ito pero kulang ‘yung tinatawag na urgency. Hindi nila nakikitang kailangan magpa-booster kaagad,” she explained.

(The acceptance, especially for the booster, is not that swift. They see that it is important but they lack the urgency. They do not see the need to get their booster immediately.)

As of February 16, around 61.9 million individuals in the country are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Of which, 9.3 million received their booster dose.

/MUF