By NG Seruela
The Department of Health (DOH) recorded a total of almost 4.5 million COVID-19 jabs administered as of May 25.
In a Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday (May 26), DOH Undersecretary and National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson Myrna Cabotaje said a total of 4,495,375 COVID-19 jabs have been administered as of May 25.
Of the total COVID-19 vaccine doses, 3,466,314 were first doses while 1,029,061 doses were second doses.
“We are all happy that we have reached the four million mark. As of yesterday, mayroon na po tayong almost 4.5 million – 4,495,000 po ang jabs na nai-administer natin, [kung saan] 3.4 million ang first dose and one-third ay nakakumpleto na ng second dose,” she said.
Cabotaje showed vaccinated population data where 1,340,337 healthcare workers, 1,174,191 senior citizens, 941,091 persons with comorbidities, and 10,695 economic frontliners received their first dose.
“Karamihan po ng ating nabakunahan, iyong tinatawag nating priority A1, nasa 85% na po tayo ng ating A1 ng first dose na masterlisted. Tapos pumapangalawa po iyong mga senior citizen na 1.1 million. Mga 12% pa lang po ang ating nababakunahan na senior citizens, kaya kailangan pa ring isulong natin iyong A2 at saka A3 and these have been registered/vaccinated in 1,381 vaccination sites,” she said.
Some 581,797 healthcare workers, 195,952 senior citizens, 250,777 persons with comorbidities, and 535 economic frontliners are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Cabotaje assured that other countries also follow the prioritization listing in their vaccination programs.
“Ang mga bansa katulad ng U.S., ang ginawa nilang priority [sa pagbabakuna] ay ang kanilang health workers, tapos ang most vulnerable kagaya ng senior citizens at ang persons with comorbidities. Even in Israel, ang inumpisahan nila ay iyong mga health workers tapos iyong mga senior citizens,” she said. –jlo
