The Philippines has administered the highest number of COVID-19 vaccines in a single day at 1,119,389 doses on Thursday (Nov. 4), as it ramps up its vaccination program.
The latest record was reached eight months after the country’s vaccination began, and is in line with the move to raise the daily vaccination target to 1.5 million to achieve population protection.
The proposal to make vaccination mandatory also received the Department of Health’s (DOH) support.
“We will never achieve yung immunity na kailangan ng population natin kung may mga sektor sa society natin na hindi mababakunahan so isa po sa tinitingnan natin na paraan is to make it mandatory,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 special adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa noted that the vaccines in use “are still experimental.”
“Palagay ko ‘yung mandatory – ang magiging mandatory ay hindi ‘yung pagbabakuna; but mandatory na ‘pag ikaw ay vaccinated, pwede ka kumain sa loob ng restaurant, pwede ka pumasok ng mall,” he said.
The DOH said vaccine hesitancy remains a factor for the slow vaccination drive in several regions due to fear and vaccine brand preference.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Eric Domingo reiterated in the Nov. 5 Laging Handa briefing that all vaccines provide protection against COVID-19.
“Lahat po ng nabakunahan ng iba-ibang brand ay nabawasan ‘yung kanilang probability na magkaroon ng COVID, magka-severe COVID, at lalong-lalo na ang [pagkamatay] from COVID-19,” he said.
The Philippine FDA aims to finish its evaluation on the third dose and booster administration within one to two weeks. Around four pharmaceutical companies have already applied for amended emergency use authorization (EUA) on the matter.
Domingo said they are looking for all possible vaccine combinations to be used.
“Maari naman po talagang maumpisahan natin ngayong buwan na ito ang pagbigay po ng extra dose doon po sa mga very selected po na group – ito nga pong healthcare workers, mga immunocompromised, at saka mga people who are at risk of getting severe COVID,” he said. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
