DOH exec: 97% of A1 sector in priority areas vaccinated vs. COVID-19

A Department of Health official on Tuesday said 97% of individuals in priority areas who belong to the A1 sector have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Sa ating mga priority areas, doon sa tinatawag nating A1, meron tayong 1.5 million [vaccinated] out of the 1.6 million. So halos 97% na po ‘yung ating A1,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(In our priority areas, we have [vaccinated] 1.5 million out of the 1.6 million. So that’s almost 97% coverage of our A1.)

Cabotaje said this figure does not include overseas Filipino workers and the families of medical professionals who were recently bumped up to the A1 group, the top priority sector for COVID-19 vaccination. 

The A1 sector also covers frontline workers in health facilities and local officials.

“Focus areas” in the Philippines’ inoculation campaign include Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal. 

Meanwhile, Cabotaje said 2 million senior citizens, 2.1 million people with comorbidities, over 573,000 essential workers, and 76,412 indigents have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

A total of 8.5 million doses have been administered nationwide, 6.4 million of which were first doses while 2.1 million were second doses. 

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the government expects Metro Manila and neighboring provinces to achieve herd immunity by November this year. 

The Philippines has logged 1,364,239 COVID-19 cases with over 1.2 million recoveries and 23,749 deaths as of Sunday afternoon. — RSJ, GMA News