Almost 71M Filipinos fully vaccinated against Covid-19

MANILA – As of June 1, the Philippines had fully vaccinated a total of 70,917,708 Filipinos against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), with 14,197,202 obtaining a third dose or first booster doses.

Based on the latest data from the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), some 152,012,792 vaccines have been administered out of the 245,233,560 total vaccine doses acquired by the government, both procured and donated, since February 2021.

In the last seven days, the average daily vaccination rate of the country is 107,452 doses.

Dr. Benito Atienza of the Philippine Medical Association on Thursday urged in a televised virtual briefing the remaining unvaccinated population to avail of the two primary Covid-19 doses including those fully vaccinated to get their booster shots.

“Alalahanin po natin na nag-wane na ang ating immunity para sa Covid-19 kasi lampas na po iyan ng four to six months kaya po dapat po ay napapamigay na ang first boosters (We should be reminded that our immunity against Covid-19 is waning because it has already exceeded four to six months, that’s why the first boosters should be given already),” he said.

The fourth Covid-19 dose or second booster shot is now available for immunocompromised individuals, senior citizens, and healthcare workers.

As the government plans a 100 percent resumption of face-to-face classes in the next school year, Atienza likewise encouraged the parents to allow their children to get protected against Covid-19.

He added that there are still enough supplies of reformulated Covid-19 vaccines for the pediatric population aged five to 11 years old.

The Philippine Medical Association is closely collaborating with the Department of Health to ensure that those remaining unvaccinated individuals could get their primary doses, especially the provision of first and second booster shots to eligible individuals, Atienza said.

Atienza also urged the public to maintain adhering to minimum health protocols in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.