MANILA, Philippines — More than 736,000 children aged 5 to 11 and 9.5 million minors aged 12 to 17 are now vaccinated against COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Tuesday.
“Sa pamamagitan ng Resbakuna Kids, nasa 736,880 na kabataan na ang ating nabakunahan at inaasahan ho natin na mas dadami pa ito sa mga susunod na linggo,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media forum.
(Through our Resbakuna Kids, we have vaccinated 736,880 children and we expect more to be immunized in the following weeks.)
“Sa kabilang banda, sa kasalukuyan, nasa halos 9.5 million naman ang 12 to 17 years old ang nabakunahan na,” she also announced.
(On the other hand, currently, almost 9.5 million minors 12 to 17 years old are already inoculated.)
Vergeire likewise reported that more than 63 million people in the country are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the serious respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, the latest strain of coronavirus.
Of the total, at least 10 million have already received a booster shot, according to the DOH official.
READ: Only 29 percent of eligible population have gotten booster shots, says DOH
Vergeire again encouraged those who have yet to get the anti-coronavirus vaccine to now receive one as she allayed fears about the COVID-19 jabs.
READ: Palace urges fully vaxxed Pinoys to get booster shots
“Kaya naman hinihikayat po natin ang lahat na maaari na pong magpabakuna sa lalong madaling panahon,” she said.
(We encourage everyone to get vaccinated immediately.)
“Wala po kayong dapat ipangamba dahil ang mga bakuna ay tinitiyak ng kagawaran na dekalidad, ligtas, at epektibong proteksyon laban sa pagkaka-ospital maski sa pagkamatay dulot ng COVID-19,” she added.
(You do not have to worry about vaccines because the department assures that vaccines are of quality, safe, and effective protection against hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19.)