By Ferdinand Patinio / Philippine News Agency
There are now 17 million workers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 following the successful first national vaccination drive held last week, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday (Dec. 8).
“Because of the vaccination days program, more people, especially workers, were vaccinated,” Labor Assistant Sec. Dominique Tutay said in a television interview. “From 10 million prior to the three-day vaccination program, we now have 17 million fully-vaccinated workers.”
Tutay said there are still more workers who need to be inoculated against the coronavirus.
“This is a big deal [the number of fully vaccinated], but if you look at the labor market there is much more to be vaccinated,” she said.
The Department of Health earlier reported that it administered over 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine during the first Bayanihan Bakunahan vaccination days from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.
The government is set to hold another national vaccination drive from Dec. 15 to 17, hoping to boost its target to fully vaccinate 54 million Filipinos by year end.
“I think by December 31 of 2021, we are all confident that we will surpass the 54 million fully vaccinated, especially if we get the same support or even much more support for the second round ng Bayanihan, Bakunahan,” acting presidential spokesman Sec. Karlo Nograles said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source on Wednesday. (PNA) – jlo
