DAVAO CITY — The government targets to administer at least 15 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine before the end of November by utilizing both public and private facilities, the country’s vaccine czar said on Wednesday.
In his report to President Rodrigo Duterte, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said they want to achieve one to 1.5 million daily jabs starting November 20 by activating more than 4,000 to 5,000 vaccination sites.
The goal, Galvez said, is to vaccinate more or less 500 persons per site. Malls, universities, schools, gyms, military and police camps and government functional halls will be used to achieve the target.
The vaccine czar told the President that they had a discussion with the members of the Philippine Medical Association and Allied Medical Association and some members of the Rotary Club.
Those organizations made a recommendation for the government to conduct National Vaccination Day either on November 20 or November 30, with the participation of non-government organizations (NGOs), government agencies, private sector and the volunteers.
Under the government’s renewed thrust on mass immunization, healthcare workers, senior citizens and children will be prioritized. Galvez said they want to fully vaccinate hospital workers with boosters by end of the month.
“Uunahin po natin ‘yung mga hospital personnel. And then we will achieve significant numbers on the vaccination of minors,” he explained.
The government also wants to fully vaccinate at least 90 percent of teachers, students, and school personnel. CHED said more or less 87 to 90 percent of them are vaccinated.
At least 70 percent of the country’s seniors must also be immunized, the vaccine czar said, noting until now, only 56 percent of those with comorbidities and senior citizens are vaccinated.
“So we will still concentrate on vaccinating the senior citizens so that we can achieve at least 70 percent,” he said.
Priority areas are Calabarzon and Central Luzon, Galvez said, adding at least 50 percent or even 70 percent of the regions’ population must be fully vaccinated before the end of November.
Meanwhile, Galvez, who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the country’s current vaccine supply is sufficient to cover the vaccination program through the end of the year.
“Ito pong volume po na ito, Mr. President, kaya po nitong suportahan ang buong November at December na po ‘yan. ‘Yung mga darating po na mga bakuna — ‘yan po ay ilalaan po natin sa mga boosters this coming first quarter of 2022,” he explained.
“Ngayon, nag-plano na po tayo, Mr. President na ‘yung first quarter natin at saka second quarter, hindi na po tayo mawawalan ng bakuna. Kasi ‘yun po ‘yung ano natin na at least before the election, magkakaroon na po ng halos na maraming boosters na po ‘yung ating mga kasamahan,” the vaccine czar added.
