DOH: 193,492 health workers vaccinated vs COVID-19; NCR at 70% coverage

The Philippines has inoculated 193,492 health workers against COVID-19 as of March 13, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this makes up 34% of half of the 1,125,600 doses that have arrived in the country. The other half of the doses is reserved for the health workers' second dose.

The DOH also said 90% of stocks have been distributed to vaccination sites.

Duque lauded Metro Manila for achieving a high COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

“Let me tell you that NCR has performed quite well, they’re now [at] 70% for the first dose of inoculation,” he said in a briefing following the launch of the European Union’s support to the country’s COVID-19 response.

Data from the DOH show that 15,188 health workers have contracted COVID-19 as of March 13.

Of this number, 14,762 have recovered while 82 have died.

Frontline workers in health facilities are the top priority in the government’s vaccination program, followed by senior citizens and persons with comorbidities.

The Philippines was earlier warned that its supply of COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility, an initiative aimed at equitable access to vaccines, could be put at risk if the prioritization list is not followed.

The country has 48,157 active COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon.—AOL, GMA News