MMC head: NCR protected vs. COVID-19 with 50% fully inoculated

The National Capital Region has achieved population protection with 50% of its residents already fully vaccinated, Metro Manila Council chair Parañaque Mayor Olivarez said on Friday.

In a radio interview, Olivarez added that 70% percent of the target population in the region already received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

“Yun pong second dose, umabot na po tayo. Yung ating fully vaccinated na population protection ng NCR, nasa 50% na po siya,” he said.

(For the second dose, we already reached the target. Those fully vaccinated is already 50%, which is needed for  NCR population protection.)

In a press conference during the arrival of vaccine supply, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos said that the NCR already vaccinated 11 million people.

According to him, around 6.5 million have received their first dose while the rest are already fully vaccinated.

On Thursday, National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said at least 41% of the eligible population in Metro Manila are fully vaccinated.

Earlier, Malacañang said restricting the movement of unvaccinated people will only be considered once 50% of Metro Manila's population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“If we reach population protection or fully vaccinating 50% of those in Metro Manila, we can consider that suggestion. Let us wait because that 50% is within reach,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. —LBG, GMA News