AT least 1.5 million Filipinos have been given two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, giving them “full protection” against the disease that has affected some 174 million individuals worldwide, according to the Department of Health.
Based on the latest COVID-19 vaccine rollout data, 1,544,332 second doses have been administered nationwide as of June 6.
“This equates to over 1 million people that have been given the full protection of the COVID-19 vaccines,” said the DOH.
The country has so far received at least nine million doses, mostly from China’s Sinovac Biotech. It targets to vaccinate 50 million to 70 million Filipinos this year to achieve herd immunity.
The National Task Force against the Coronavirus Disease (NTF COVID-19) said based on DOH data, 5,965,651 doses have been administered as of 6 pm of June 6.
“This equates to over 1 million people that have been given the full protection of the COVID-19 vaccines,” the Task Force said, as it urged individuals belonging to priority groups A1 to A3 to register, be vaccinated and complete the required number of doses as scheduled even while continuing to abide by health protocols.
Broken down by priority groups, the DOH those who have completed the two-dose jab were 827,089 healthcare workers who belong to A1 priority group of the national vaccination program, 369,387 senior citizens (A2), 343,297 people with comorbidities (A3), and 4,559 frontline workers in essential sectors (A4).
Overall, almost 6 million doses have been administered, including some 4.4 million recipients of first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
“All eligible populations belonging to priority groups are urged to complete the required number of doses as scheduled,” said the DOH.
The recipients of the first doses are 1.4 million from the A1 sector, 1.5 million from A2, 1.5 million from A3, and 12,259 from the A4 sector.
The DOH noted the total doses administered on the 14th week of the national vaccination program has reached 788,350 doses. This, it said, has resulted in the average daily administered doses in the last seven days to 112,621.
A4 VAX GUIDELINES
Vaccinated for the A4 sector started yesterday.
Based on implementing guidelines issued by the DOH, elderly workers may be prioritized in the event of shortage in vaccine supply.
“In situations where there is a limited supply of COVID- 19 vaccines, priority may be given to eligible Priority Group A4 workers within 40-59 years old, then to those 18-39 years old,” said the DOH Memorandum No. 2021-0259.
But overall, the guidelines show that priority group A4 shall cover all workers in the private, public/government, and the informal sectors, including self-employed and working in private households.
It will, however, be divided in two phases, with the first being those in the A4 group in areas within the NCR+8 (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao) areas, followed by those eligible under the A4 priority group from the rest of the country.
After the A4 group, the DOH will make as assessment as to the vaccine supply for the A5 (indigent population) and Priority Groups B and C.
“Maybe, by July, we can see how stable our supplies are and we will be able to determine if we can already start with the other sectors simultaneously with the current ones,” said Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire.
She said expansion of the vaccination program rollout is largely dependent on vaccine supply.
President Duterte again urged those who have been vaccinated to continue following the minimum public health standards, and continued to call on people to be vaccinated.
“To my dear kababayans, let us keep in mind that vaccination is the only way forward for us to overcome this pandemic, but we must also remember that getting vaccinated is not the only solution. We must continue to observe minimum health standards by wearing a mask, washing our hands, and observing social distancing,” Duterte said in a pre-recorded message during the ceremonial vaccination of the A4 group at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Fifty people from the A4 category, representing the government workforce, the teachers, the business process outsourcing sector, the travel guides, the drivers, household staff, mall personnel, fast food crew workers, and journalists were inoculated with government-bought Sinovac during the event. They will get the second dose on July5.
President Duterte said with the expected arrival of more vaccines, the government can aggressively pursue the inoculation of the other sectors such as the A4 group.
“We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccine shipments have arrived, have started to arrive in bulk. This development is the result of our national government’s aggressive efforts to secure sufficient doses from the different manufacturers,” the President said.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and presidential adviser on entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion all welcomed the inoculation of the economic frontliners, saying it will help protect the workforce and eventually boost the economy. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
