DOH: 700K Filipinos get COVID-19 booster jab under 'PinasLakas' so far

Almost 700,000 Filipinos have received their first COVID-19 booster shot so far under the government’s “PinasLakas” campaign, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.

In an Unang Balita interview, Vergeire said they are now bringing the vaccines closer to communities in a bid to ramp up the booster coverage in the country amid the rising COVID-19 infections.

Some of the populated places being used as vaccination sites now are markets, places of worship, workplaces, and schools, she said.

“As of August 6, we have already vaccinated almost 700,000 individuals for the first booster shot, and for the senior citizen, mga 43,000 po,” Vergeire said.

DOH launched the PinasLakas campaign on July 26, with a goal to boost 23.8 million Filipinos or 50% of the eligible population within the first 100 days of the Marcos administration.

It also aims to vaccinate 90% of the target senior citizens within the same period.

DOH earlier said the government has to vaccinate 397,334 individuals per day in 60 days to achieve the target.

However, as the campaign failed to meet its daily goals since its kick off, Vergeire on Friday said they need to increase their target, and boost 443,892 individuals and vaccinate 20,774 senior citizens daily to achieve the target by October 8.

The Philippines on Sunday recorded 4,621 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the active caseload to 37,805.  —KBK, GMA News