DOH targets 80% vaccine coverage of seniors, persons with comorbidities before shift to Alert Level 1

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday said 80 percent of senior citizens and persons with comorbidities should be vaccinated in an area before it can be deescalated to Alert Level 1.

"Before ma-deescalate, kailangan 80 percent ng A2 at A3 ay kanilang maabot. Kung hindi makarating sa panukatan na 'yan ay hindi tayo puwedeng mag-deescalate," Duque said on President Rodrigo Duterte's weekly Talk to the People.

"Maganda po 'tong metric sa pag-assess kung sino bang lugar ang hinog na for Alert Level 1," he added.

Earlier, the Department of Health said the national government is preparing for Alert Level 1 and the eventual transition of the COVID-19 pandemic to endemic state.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Alert Level 1 would be the country's "new normal."

Currently, Metro Manila and several provinces are under Alert Level 2 until the end of the month.

Under Alert Level 2 — the second lowest in the new alert level system — certain establishments and activities are allowed at 50% capacity indoors for fully vaccinated adults (and minors, even if unvaccinated), and 70% capacity outdoors.

The country has so far recorded 3,653,526 COVID-19 cases with 3,539,106 recoveries and 55,763 deaths.

Vaccination rate

In his report, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that of the 90 million Filipinos targeted to be vaccinated, a total of 62,505,204 have received their second dose or 69 percent.

"We have reached an inflection point where our daily output has dramatically reduced from 1 million to less than 500,00- a day and low turnout during National Vaccination days," he said.

Galvez said the government will focus on the remaining three million seniors and persons with comorbidities in its continuing vaccination efforts.

He also said that 12 of the country's 17 regions may already be considered as having high vaccine coverage. These regions should focus on offering boosters, while the remaining five regions should try to boost their primary vaccinations.—LDF, GMA News