COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Palace says 30M vaccine doses administered, justifies holding 'milestone' events

Malacañang on Monday justified holding events to celebrate the government's "milestones" in its COVID-19 vaccination program.

At a press briefing in San Mateo, Rizal, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said such events aim to encourage more people to get inoculated against COVID-19.

"Taking note of these milestones is a way of encouraging people na magpabakuna na rin [to get vaccinated]," Roque said as he announced that the government has already administered 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

"We feel that this is part of effective government communication na magpabakuna ang lahat [to encourage everyone to get vaccinated]," he added.

Roque also said the events are not held in areas that are on lockdown.

"We are very cognizant kung ano quarantine classification kung saan kami pupunta [of the quarantine classification of the place where we'll go have the event]," he said

Roque, in the same briefing, said that 13 million Filipinos have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

"This is a milestone," he said.

"Tagumpay pero patuloy na paghamon [This is a success but the challenge remains]." Roque added.

He then encouraged the public to "protect yourself, protect your love ones by getting vaccinated." —Llanesca T. Panti/KBK, GMA News