Nearly 1 million individuals so far fully vaccinated vs COVID-19

(FILE) Pasay City residents troop to the city government’s Giga Vaccination center at SM Mall of Asia to receive the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 1 million individuals in the country have already received their second dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, or are now fully vaccinated, National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said Tuesday.

As of May 24, a total of 986,929 individuals have received their second dose of the vaccine.

Of those who are now fully vaccinated, 560,375 are health workers, 181,765 are senior citizens, 244,393 are persons with comorbidities, and 296 are essential workers, Dizon said.

The Philippines has so far administered 4.3 million COVID-19 doses.

Dizon added that the average vaccinations per day have also reached 166,000, with a peak of 236,244 vaccinations.

However, while the pace of vaccination in the country has improved, this is not yet enough to achieve herd immunity as the government is aiming to achieve 500,000 vaccinations a day.

“Naniniwala kami sa susunod na nga buwan, lalo na darating ang bulto ng vaccines, very achievable ‘yan,” he said in a Palace briefing.

(We believe that in the coming months, especially when the bulk of vaccines arrive, that is achievable.)

He said the government is aiming to vaccinate 70% of the population before the year ends.

It is also aiming to achieve 120,000 vaccinations per day in Metro Manila and 200,000 vaccinations per day in eight other provinces.

/MUF