MMDA: 68% of target population in NCR now fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Nearly seven in 10 residents of Metro Manila who are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination are now fully protected against the coronavirus, a government official said Wednesday.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay online media forum, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos said 6.69 million residents are now fully vaccinated as of September 20, representing 68.31% of the eligible population of 9.8 million.

Some 8.52 million people, meanwhile, received their first dose.

Abalos said their projections showed the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals could hit 80.5% by October 20 and 89.77% by December 20.

The MMDA chief said the target population does not include minors as the government has yet to decide when to include them in the immunization program.

"In terms of vaccination, those on the ground really delivered," he said.

Booster shots for healthcare workers

Abalos, meanwhile, proposed that the AstraZeneca vaccine doses procured by the local government units be used as booster shots for the healthcare workers and senior citizens.

“I voiced this out because most of the LGUs have already ordered for AstraZeneca, the tripartite [agreements] if you would recall,” he said.

“The first thing that they should do is to try if they could combine AstraZeneca with Sinovac because Sinovac is the most widely used vaccine in the country.”

He also urged the experts to decide soon on the need to administer booster shots.

The country’s vaccination program kicked off in Metro Manila in March.—AOL, GMA News