MANILA, Philippines — Around 66.2 million individuals in the country are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but only 12.2 million got their booster dose, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire reported Tuesday.
The government is targeting to fully immunize 90 million individuals by the end of June.
“As of April 4, 2022, more than 66.2 million na po sa ating mga kababayan ang nakakapag-enjoy outdoors dahil sila ay fully vaccinated na laban sa COVID-19,” Vergeire said in a media forum.
(As of April 4, 2022 more than 66.2 million of our fellow citizens enjoy the outdoors because they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.)
The figure includes 6.6 million senior citizens and 8.9 million persons with comorbidities, said Vergeire.
The count likewise included over one million children aged five to 11, and nine million adolescents aged 12 to 17.
READ: Only 8 out of 159,612 minors aged 5-11 had COVID vaccine adverse effects—DOH
Meanwhile, there are 12.2 million people who have received their booster dose as of April 4.
More than 46.8 million individuals are qualified for a booster shot.
Vergeire called on the eligible persons to be administered with a booster shot for an additional layer of protection as vaccine efficacy wanes over time.
“Ano pa po naman ang inaantay natin para sa ating 46.8 million eligible citizens na nakatapos na ng kanilang primary series?,” she appealed.
(For our 46.8 million eligible citizens who completed their primary series, what are you waiting for?)
“Magpaturok na po tayo ng booster shots sa lalong madaling panahon upang mapanatiling protektado laban sa COVID-19. Vaccine efficacy wanes over time,” added Vergeire.
(Get vaccinated with a booster shot immediately to remain protected against COVID-19.)