PRESIDENT Duterte leads today the start of three-day “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” program as government ramps up its vaccination drive against COVID-19 amid threats from a new variant, Omicron.
Carlito Galvez Jr., chief of the National Task Force against COVID-19 and concurrent vaccine czar, said government hopes to delay the “very imminent” entry of Omicron in the country to protect the people, especially the vulnerable sector such as the healthcare workers, elders, and those with comorbidities, by completing their primary and booster shots before the end of the year.
NTF adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa urged Filipinos to get vaccinated now with the emergence of the new variant.
The World Health Organization has called Omicron a “variant of concern.” It is seen as potentially more contagious than other variants, although it is yet unknown whether it will lead to more or less severe COVID-19.
The President has declared November 29 to December 1 as National Vaccination Days (NVDs) with the goal of vaccinating about nine million to 10 million individuals. NVDs will also be held from December 15 to 17 to cover another nine to 10 million people.
Galvez said aside from ensuring that unvaccinated people will finally get their first dose, the government is hoping that the rest of the population will complete their vaccination, the vulnerable sectors will be able to get their booster shots, and the pediatric sector will be able to receive or complete their primary shot.
Galvez said the government also wants to vaccinate up to 80 to 90 percent of the children before the end of the year, along with students and teachers, in anticipation of a full implementation of the face-to-face classes by January.
Galvez said the end goal is to fully vaccinated at least 54 million people, including 80 percent of minors aged 12 to 17 years, by the end of the year, and to complete the first dose of around 70 million of the targeted population by the end of the year; fully vaccinate 77 million by the first quarter of 2022; and fully vaccinate 90 million or higher by the end of the second quarter of next year. The government targets have changed over the past months due to availability of vaccines and auxiliary items such as syringes, vaccinators, vaccine sites, among others.
“We also aim to finish administering booster shots to 1.6 million health workers and 5 to 8 million senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities,” he said adding that the government is also eyeing to start giving booster shots for the A4 or economic frontliners by December 10.
He said the government is also targeting the start of the vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11 by early next year.
Herbosa, in an interview with radio DZBB, said while studies are ongoing to determine exactly how effective the current vaccines are against Omicron, the jabs still provide some form of protection, especially against severe or critical COVID-19 or even death.
He said more definitive findings could be available in one to two weeks.
Meanwhile, the government and Pfizer-BioNTech have signed an amendment to its supply agreement for the purchase of an additional 20 million vaccine doses, which brings to 60 million the total vaccine shots ordered by the country for the year 2021 and 2022.
Galvez also the country has received 142.153 million doses of vaccines. As of November 27, some 81 million doses have been administered nationwide.
At least 35.6 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated or 46.10 percent of the country’s targeted population.
FULL FORCE
Military and police resources will be used for the three-day vaccination drive.
“We are in full force,” said Col. Fatima Claire Navarro, the AFP’s Surgeon General, referring to the Armed Forces which has began hauling of medical supplies to the far-flung areas as of last Saturday.
Navarro said that for three-day event, the military has been tasked to transport vaccines and medical supplies to geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas or GIDAS, like islands and mountainous areas, and to make available personnel for the actual vaccination.
Navarro said military reservists were also tapped to help.
She said all available land, sea and assets will be dedicated to support the national vaccination days.
Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said all available medical personnel of the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology will be deployed for the vaccination drive.
The Manila city government will open 75 vaccination sites today for Bayanihan, Bakunahan.
These will be in 44 district health centers, 18 community school sites, six district hospitals, three schools, and four mall sites.
The Quezon City government said it is targeting to vaccinate around 150,000 individuals during the three-event. It will prioritize minors aged 12-17 years and adults, and administer booster doses to members of the A1 (healthcare workers), A2 (senior citizens), and A3 (immunocompromised individuals). — With Victor Reyes, Ashzel Hachero and Noel Talacay
