By Ma. Teresa Montemayor | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – A total of 60,406,424 doses of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine have been administered nationwide since the rollout began in March, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday (Nov. 3).
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said the National Capital Region has the highest number of fully vaccinated individuals at 8,616,362 or 88.13% of its 13,966,233 population.
It is followed by the Cordillera Administrative Region with 502,283 fully vaccinated individuals or 39.37% of its 1,822,719 population.
The latest data from the National Vaccines Operation Center showed that 32,656,615 jabs were administered as first doses while 27,749,809 vaccines were given as second doses.
“We are happy to almost complete our A1, these are the workers at our frontline health services, our first priority population group, 99.75% (1,634,820) one dose and 95.39% (1,563,363) fully vaccinated,” she said.
“Our senior citizens are slowly inching up but we still need to push, we are at 63.4% (5,237,969) of 8,254,531 senior citizens who have first dose and 57.98% (4,785,828), second dose,” she added.
The target population of healthcare workers is 1,638,917 and 8,524,531 for senior citizens.
For the individuals with comorbidities, about 81.56% or 7,358,029 of the target 9,021,220 population are fully vaccinated.
For the frontline personnel in the essential sector, about 33.72% or 9,543,532 of 28,300,410 target individuals have received their second jab.
Meantime, 3,083,014 or 23.88% of the 12,911,193 indigent population are now fully-vaccinated.
“For the rest of the adult population which is a total of 17,012,787, 18 and above, 1,483,315 first dose and 381,969 two doses,” Cabotaje said.
The Philippines has had over 108 million COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered since February this year and with a steady supply, more of the eligible population gets vaccinated.
On Wednesday, the pediatric vaccination was officially launched nationwide with a target population of 12,722,070, of which about 1,272,207 have comorbidities.
As of Nov. 2, a total of 40,419 minors have received their life-saving shots.
The national government is keeping its goal to achieve population protection before this year ends, raising the initial target of 70% or 77 million eligible population to 80% to 90% or about 88 million. (PNA) – bny
