DOH to launch booster vaccine campaign to reach target under new admin

IN MOST NEED An elderly woman gets her second vaccine booster that will help her fight off COVID-19. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health on Wednesday said it would launch the “PinasLakas” campaign on July 26, which aims to administer booster shots to at least 50 percent of the eligible population in the first 100 days of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire announced the campaign’s launch during a media forum on Wednesday.

According to Vergeire, apart from the 50 percent goal, the DOH and implementing units will target to vaccinate 90 percent of the A2 population or the senior citizens.

Home visits will also be conducted for the senior population eligible for booster shots.

“The DOH will make vaccines more accessible and available in markers, places of worship, malls, transport terminals, officers, factories, plazas, or schools,” said Vergeire.

The DOH had said that to achieve 50 percent booster coverage, the agency needs to vaccinate 23,840,032 individuals or 397,334 individuals per day for 60 days.

Based on DOH’s latest vaccine coverage data, as of July 19, 71.4 million Filipinos have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Of this number, only 15.7 million Filipinos have received their booster shot, while 1.1 million have received the second booster dose.

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JPV/abc