Daily COVID-19 vax count ‘dramatically reduced’ – Galvez

A child gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, during the launch of the vaccination of those aged 5 to 11 on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. (Photo from the Vigan City government)

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s daily COVID-19 vaccination output has been “dramatically reduced” from 1 million to 500,000,” Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the nationwide vaccine manager, said in his presentation in the weekly “Talk to the Nation” briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Galvez called the development an “inflection point” for the Philippines.

He also noted a “low turn-out” during the National Vaccination Days.

“We need to visit barangays and go house to house so that we can raise the daily output again,” Galvez said in Filipino.

So far, 62,505,204 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is 69 percent of the government’s target to inoculate 90 million people.

“We will also continue to concentrate 3 million seniors and people with comorbidities,” Galvez added.

The National Vaccination Operations Center of the Department of Health has designated a focal person for each region to make sure that at least 70 percent of their eligible population will be vaccinated, Galvez said.

Presentation of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. during Monday’s (Feb. 21, 2022) “Talk to the Nation.” (Screengrab from PTV live stream)

Kids aged 12 to 17

Meanwhile, 8,295,474 individuals aged 12 to 17 — or 65 percent of the adolescent sector — have completed their primary vaccination, Galvez said.

“But we need to find and encourage the 3 million who have not yet been vaccinated,” he added.

For those aged 5 to 11 years old, Galvez said their COVID-19 vaccination was “very successful.”

According to him, 437,939 have so far received their first dose, with 68 having minor side effects and one a major side effect.

Those who experienced side effects were “treated immediately,” Galvez said.

“All of them are, well now, we have seen an immediate reaction,” he added.

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