6 million administered COVID-19 vaccine doses eyed in 3rd national vax drive

Teenagers wait with their parents for their turn during an innoculation drive of young people aged 12 to 17 against the Covid-19 coronavirus, at a school in Taguig City, suburban Manila on November 10, 2021. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — The government is targeting to administer six million COVID-19 vaccine doses in the third national vaccination drive slated on February 10 and 11.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday said that the government is planning to administer two million primary doses and four million booster shots.

“Tuloy-tuloy naman yung ating advocacy at pagpapaliwanag kung gaano kaimportante itong pagbabakuna at sa katunayan nga ‘no mayroon tayong National Vaccination Day Part 3 ito ay February 10 to 11 na kung saan ang target natin dito ay makapagbakuna tayo sa primary ay two million at ang booster shot ay four million,” he said on TeleRadyo’s Sakto.

(Our advocacy and information drive on vaccines is ongoing and in fact, we have a National Vaccination Day Part 3 on February 10 to 11 where we aim to administer two million primary doses and four million booster shots.)

Año said that one million of the target six million doses will be administered in Metro Manila.

“Sa Metro Manila na lang ano ang target natin ay about one million na binubuo ng primary series at saka booster shot,” he said.

(In Metro Manila alone, our target is to inject one million primary series and booster shots.)

Ano said employers have been urged to allow employees to skip work to get immunized.

“May pasok ito pero nakausap naman natin ‘yung mga employers na payagan ‘yung mga kanilang mga empleyado para makapagbakuna. In fact, dapat nga binibigyan pa sila ng incentives hindi ito ikakaltas sa kanilang leave,” he shared.

(This is a work day but we talked to employers to allow their employees to get vaccinated. In fact, they should be given incentives.)

The government kicked off the first national vaccination drive, dubbed Bayanihan, Bakunahan, on November 29 to December 1 with some areas extending until December 3.

The second Bayanihan, Bakunahan started on December 15 with some areas beginning at a later date as they reel from the devastation of Typhoon Odette, the strongest tropical cyclone to hit the country in 2021.

To date, around 59.8 million individuals are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  About eight million individuals, meanwhile, have received their booster shot. (with a report from Jericho Zafra)

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