By NG Seruela
The Department of Health (DOH) reported that over three million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the Philippines.
In the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday (May 19), DOH Undersecretary and National Vaccine Operations Center Chairperson Myrna Cabotaje announced that as of Tuesday (May 18), the total number of vaccines administered is 3,299,470, with 2,512,942 administered as first dose and 786,528 as second dose.
She said the number of vaccines administered to medical frontliners for the first dose is 1,240,119 and 453,266 doses for the second dose. The vaccine statistics for senior citizens are 714,312 for the first dose and 110,290 for the second dose.
Some 548,844 persons with comorbidities have also received their first dose, while 222,780 have completed their second dose. Around 9,667 frontliners in the essential sectors have been inoculated for the first dose, while 192 have received their second dose.
Cabotaje said the 7-day average of the country’s vaccination reached 108,540 and that the Philippines might hit the four million mark by the end of the month.
“Marami na pong nagmamadali, nakakatuwa naman po that they all wanted to be vaccinated. Kaya since dumating na po iyong mga volumes ng vaccine natin, gagawin nating simultaneous,” she said.
She assured that the vaccination will continue and “expand” its coverage to the A4 and A5 category. However, the vaccination will focus on the NCR Plus 8 areas — Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao — due to “geographic prioritization.” -jlo
