NTF targeting 5M inoculations weekly —spokesperson

The National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 needs to achieve 5 million inoculations per week to use up all its monthly vaccine supply, its spokesman said Sunday.

NTF spokesperson Restituto Padilla said the government is seeking to keep its target number of vaccinations to reach herd immunity, amid complaints about the slow vaccination process in the country. 

"Kung puwede natin magawa one million sa bawat araw. Kasi ang target natin sa isang linggo, hopefully, 5 million inoculations para yung supply na 20 to 25 million sa isang buwan, maubos natin yun," Padilla said over Dobol B TV.

(If possible, we must inoculate 1 million everyday. But our target for one week is at 5 million so that we can administer a month's supply of 20 to 25 million doses.)

Padilla admitted there is a lack of vaccinators in some centers as some health workers are shifting to COVID-19 response as cases surge in the country.

He added that some vaccination centers in Metro Manila are slowing down due to the suspension of walk-in inoculations, which could possibly cause community transmission of the coronavirus.

"Hindi na pwedeng magpa-walk in ng gaya ng dati dahil sa banta ng Delta variant, kasi iniiwasan natin na magkaroon ng superspreader event," he said.

(We have stopped walk-in inoculations because of the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant -- to avoid possible superspreader events.)

In a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released in August, 50% of Filipinos lamented the slow COVID-19 vaccination pace

The Philippines has secured 194.89 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for 2021, which is believed to be enough to cover all eligible population in the country. 

On cremation of COVID-19 dead 

While Padilla noted that some local government units, specifically in NCR Plus, lack of crematoriums, this is still not "problematic" yet because LGUs are coordinating with each other.

"Pero, by and large, hindi pa rin ganoon talaga ka problematic ito. Nagtutulong-tulong ang magkakalapit na mga LGU. Nagkakaroon ng coordination lalo na sa pag-cremate ng mga remains," he said.

(Cremation is still not problematic. LGUs are helping other LGUs. There is coordination among them.)

He further pointed out that medical experts have yet to allow the suspension of the policy on cremation of COVID-19 deaths.

He said the remains of COVID-19 dead are stored first in mortuaries while awaiting cremation. —LBG, GMA News