Palace: 15 million Filipinos fully vaccinated vs. COVID-19

Malacañang said Monday at least 15 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the 15,033,354 million fully vaccinated accounts for 19.49% of the target 70% eligible population needed to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 by the end of the year.

In total, the Philippines has administered 35,838,964 millions COVID-19 vaccine doses.

The Philippine government has set a target of administering 500,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses in a day.

Such target, however, was only met once in the last three days: last Friday, September 3, when 510,779 COVID-19 doses were administered.

The COVID-19 jobs only reached 477,055 on September 4 and even lower at 277,995 on September 5.

The number of daily new COVID-19 cases recorded in the country, on the other hand, has breached 20,000 in each of the last three days.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon earlier said the target of administering 500,000 jabs in a day would need hiring of additional health workers since vaccinators are splitting their time taking care of COVID-19 patients and vaccinating the people.

The Philippine government started its COVID-19 vaccination program last March 1. — RSJ, GMA News