DOH: Over 320,000 individuals fully vaccinated vs. COVID-19

The Philippines has fully vaccinated 320,586 individuals against COVID-19 as of May 4, more than two months since it launched its inoculation campaign, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said 284,065 of these vaccine recipients are health workers, 4,966 are senior citizens, and 31,555 are persons with comorbidities.

Meanwhile, 1,744,649 individuals have gotten their first dose of the Sinovac, AstraZeneca, or Sputnik V jabs.

Of this number, 1,114,345 are health workers, 329,650 are senior citizens, 293,312 are persons with comorbidities, and 7,342 are essential workers.

A total of 2,065,235 doses have been administered across 1,016 active vaccination sites.

Cabotaje also reported that 2,634 people got their first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine during the rollout in Parañaque, Manila, and Makati cities on Tuesday, while the vaccination with the Russian-made vaccine in Taguig and Muntinlupa is scheduled for Wednesday.

The health official also expressed optimism that the individuals and areas at highest risk for COVID-19 will get vaccinated this year despite expected delays in deliveries due to India’s case surge.

“Hindi man natin maitala, maabot ‘yung ating minimithi na at least 70% by the end of the year, may specific areas naman na mas bubuhusan natin ng vaccine para mas marami silang maprotektahan,” she said in a Laging Handa briefing.

(Even if we do not reach our goal of vaccinating 70% of the population by the end of the year, there are specific areas that will get a lot vaccines so more people would be protected there.)

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said Metro Manila and nearby provinces could reach herd immunity by November. 

The Philippines has recorded 1,067,892 COVID-19 cases with 984,210 recoveries and 17,622 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. —KBK, GMA News