Daily COVID-19 vaccinations decreasing due to lack of manpower —gov't consultant

The number of daily COVID-19 vaccinations in the country has decreased due to limited manpower, a consultant of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said Friday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Dr. Ted Herbosa said supply is no longer the problem but the availability of manpower who will conduct the inoculation in vaccination centers.

“Ang alam namin bumababa yung output namin. Dati nakaka-700,000 injections per day. Bumaba ito sa 300,000. Ngayon, nag-stabilize sa 400,000,” he said.

(What we know is that the number of our output has declined. Previously, we could achieve 700,000 injections per day. It decreased to 300,000. Now, it has stabilized to around 400,00)

Due to this, Herbosa said the government is encouraging medical students to volunteer in vaccination centers, as planned by the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health.

He added that the government is lacking manpower in vaccination centers because healthcare workers are needed more in hospitals amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

As of August 22, the NTF said a total of 30,389,160 doses have been administered in the country. At least 17,258,675 people have received their first dose, while 13,130,485 are already fully vaccinated.

On Wednesday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairperson Benhur Abalos said the National Capital Region's vaccination program is on the right track to a happy Christmas.

The government is eyeing to vaccinate 58 million people in highly urbanized areas by the end of the year to achieve herd immunity amid limited COVID-19 vaccine supply.

To reach herd immunity, the Philippines has to inoculate 70% to 80% of its 109 million population. —KBK, GMA News