By NG Seruela
The Department of Health (DOH) announced that the vaccination of priority group A1 is now 96% complete.
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday (July 12), Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said 1.5 million out of 1.6 million health frontliners have received their vaccination against COVID-19, with 96% having received their first dose and 72% their second dose.
“We’re happy to announce na based on the masterlisted number–nag-deadline po tayo ng May 31 — 96% na po ang nabakunahan [na healthcare workers] ng first dose tapos 72% na po ang second dose.”
She added that the new hires of the healthcare workers will be included in the priority group expanded A1.
For the priority group A2 or the senior citizens, she said only 2.6 million out of 8 million senior citizens or 30.97% have been vaccinated.
Due to the low number of vaccinated senior citizens, Cabotaje said the department is conducting a program called “Tutok A2” where townhall meetings are conducted to emphasize the importance of vaccinating senior citizens against COVID-19.
In relation to this, National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) member Dr. Nina Castillo-Carandang said on July 7 that senior citizens lack genuine information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, but easily access false information.
READ MORE: http://152.42.253.13/doh-low-number-of-vaccinated-senior-citizens-due-to-fake-news/
Cabotaje said the local government units (LGUs) are conducting house-to-house vaccination for bedridden senior citizens. She added that together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), they are making the vaccine registration easier.
“Ang direktiba po ng ating vaccine czar Secretary [Carlito] Galvez [Jr.] ay itutok din ang pagbigay ng J&J sa ating mga senior citizens [dahil one-dose lang ito],” she said.
Meanwhile, 3.2 million persons with comorbidities have been inoculated against COVID-19, 1.6 million individuals were vaccinated under the A4 category or the frontline personnel in essential sector, and around 307,000 individuals from the A5 category or marginalized individuals have received their first dose.
The Philippines has administered a total of 13 million COVID-19 jabs. – jlo
READ MORE: http://152.42.253.13/ph-hits-13-m-in-covid-19-vax-program/
