Gov’t to intensify
administration of COVID-19 booster dose
The government eyes to double the number of COVID-19 booster shots being administered to the eligible population from the current daily average as authorities ramp up immunization amid the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant.
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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over a meeting with key government officials prior to his "Talk to the People" at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on January 17, 2021. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said that so far, there were 4.7 million Filipinos who received booster doses.
“Ang average po natin naitala ay mahigit na
260,000 po lamang. Kinakailangan po na maiangat sa doblado or 500,000 doses
kada araw,” said Galvez during the President’s Talk to the People.
To provide boosters to the targeted 72.16 million
population, Galvez said the government’s strategy is to concentrate in the
National Capital Region Plus 10 (NCR+ 10), and in areas with more than 70
percent fully vaccinated population.
The government will also expand the vaccination
sites for boostering using facilities like Nayong Pilipino and malls.
In immunizing minors aged 12 to 17 years, Galvez,
who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19,
said 8.49 million or 67 percent received the first dose and 6.88 million or 54
percent are already fully vaccinated.
If the current output continues, the vaccine czar
said the government can conclude vaccinating minors 12 to 17 years old by the
end of March and the administration of boosters could begin by April once
experts give the green light.
Galvez also reported that for children five to 11
years old, 15.56 million could soon be vaccinated as 780,000 doses of the jabs
intended for minors could arrive late this month and an additional 1,632,000
doses will be delivered on February 7.
These are part of the 7.5 million doses procured
by the government, which are set to arrive in the first quarter of this year
and another 7.5 million doses in the second quarter.
The government also placed orders for the delivery
of 10 to 15 million doses to complete the second dose of children aged five to
11 years.
“Other orders will be in tranches considering this
is a different formulation intended for the age group 11 years and below.
Puwede po natin pong gamitin ‘to sa zero to four years old,” he told the
President.
For children aged zero to four years, the vaccine
coordinator said they are awaiting the issuance of emergency amendment abroad
and the advice of local experts.
Aside from immunizing minors, part of the
government strategy is to inoculate three million unvaccinated senior citizens,
as well as maximize the use of the 9 million doses of the single dose Janssen
jab currently in the government inventory.
According to Galvez, the government targets to
achieve vaccination milestones of immunizing 77 million by the end of March and
90 million by the end of June.
Looking forward, Galvez said they are working to
hand over the responsibility from the national government to the local government
units (LGUs) and the private sector in preparation for future vaccine
commercialization.
“So ang mangyayari po si Secretary AΓ±o at saka po
ang private sector na po ang mamumuno po ng mga vaccination program po natin
through the LGUs,” he said. PND
