Duterte orders LGUs to find people who haven’t gotten 2nd vaccine dose

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night ordered local government units to find the individuals who missed their second COVID-19 vaccine dose.

"Kindly help us ferret out persons who have not received the booster until now," the President said in his weekly address to the nation.

"Paki ano lang kasi itong COVID na ito is a very toxic thing and it can contaminate you again," Duterte added.

Duterte also urged the public to strictly observe minimum health standards as the vaccine is only an added protection.

"Although it would give you a measure of protection, it does not guarantee you will not get COVID again. In spite of your vaccine, please observe the basic protocols," he said.

"Although it would give you a measure of protection, it does not guarantee you will not get COVID again. In spite of your vaccine, please observe the basic protocols," he said.

Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said some vaccine recipients might have missed the schedule for their second dose due to illness or personal matters, among other reasons.

According to the Department of Health, over 9% or 113,000 individuals missed their second dose schedule.

Vice President Leni Robredo earlier sounded alarm on individuals who missed their second COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Robredo urged authorities to remind vaccine recipients to turn up at inoculation sites to get their second show.

Showing concern over DOH's insinuation that 113,000 is not one million, Robredo said the number is still huge.

"Kaya para sa akin, kailangan maayos ang sistema...at makaka-avail sila  ng second dose. Kailangan silang tulungan pumunta sa vaccination centers [For me, we need to fix the system. Those who got their first, must get the second dose. They need to be assisted in going to vaccination centers]," Robredo said.

"Officials should be able to identify those who failed to secure their second dose," she added.

The Department of Health reported on Monday that nearly 6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been administered, and that more than 1.5 million people have received both doses.

The country has so far recorded 1,276,004 cases of COVID-19, including 21,969 fatalities. — BM, GMA News