10 MILLIONTH JAB. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers the 10 millionth dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 74-year-old Nieves Catacutan in a ceremonial vaccination at the Valenzuela Astrodome in Valenzuela City on Monday (June 28, 2021). The country has so far administered 10,065,414 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. (PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.)
MANILA – Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday administered the country’s 10 millionth dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 74-year-old Nieves Catacutan in a ceremonial vaccination in Valenzuela City that highlights the government’s vaccination program.
Catacutan, a resident of Barangay Gen. T De Leon, Valenzuela City, received her first vaccine shot under the A-5 priority or indigent priority group category of the vaccination rollout that started on March 1 this year.
The latest data of the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 shows about 10,065,414 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide as of June 27.
Of the number, 7,538,128 Filipinos have received their first dose, while 2,527,286 are fully vaccinated.
The country's average jab rate over the last seven days is at 236,867 doses across 1,231 active vaccination hubs.
Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian thanked the national government for supporting the city's vaccination program.
Duque, also chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), commended the Valenzuela local government for utilizing around 80 percent of the more or less 250,000 doses of vaccines deployed in the city.
Population protection achievable
He said these positive developments in the vaccine rollout are indications that population protection can be achieved within this year.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian committed to helping the government achieved the target population protection as soon as possible.
As the government expands the vaccination program to economic frontline workers, Gatchalian said Valenzuela has three industry-specific vaccination sites exclusively for factory workers and blue-collar workers, which are open until 10 p.m., each site can process 1,200 inoculations daily.
He said the vaccination of economic workers will be done through a group booking method.
"You don't book by yourself, but your company books on behalf of the company. It's easier for the logistics and we can guarantee the one body showing up," he added.
Once Valenzuela is done inoculating its own residents and workers, Gatchalian said they are willing to cater to outside residents, particularly those from the nearby Bulacan towns.
500K doses daily
Malacañang expressed optimism that the government will be able to achieve its 500,000 daily vaccination rate target once the vaccine arrival becomes stable.
“Tiwala tayo na maaabot natin ang 500,000 daily vaccination rate nating target basta patuloy ang pagdating ng supply ng bakuna sa bansa (We are confident that we will achieve our 500,000 daily vaccination rate target provided that the arrival of vaccine supply in the country will continue),” Roque said in his regular Palace press briefing on Monday.
Roque announced the arrival of the first batch 249,600 doses of Moderna on Sunday night and additional 1 million doses of Sinovac on Monday.
As of June 28, the Philippines has received a total of 17,455,470 doses of vaccines, of which Sinovac accounts for around 12 million doses.
Other vaccines in the tally include jabs from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Moderna.
Duterte supports drive-through vaccination
Roque said the drive-through vaccination initiated by different groups including the City of Imus in Cavite in partnership with Robinsons and by Vice President Leni Robredo is supported by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“So hindi po nagbabago ang posisyon ng Presidente dahil ito po ay isang pamamaraan na mapabigay sa ating kababayan iyong bakuna na (So the position of the President has not change because this [drive-through vaccination] is one way to inoculate our people with vaccines) procured by the Duterte administration. We welcome of course this initiative of Imus,” Roque said.
Roque said Imus is just one of the local government units that will implement drive-through vaccination in partnership with the private sector, particularly Robinsons malls, to boost the country’s vaccination program.
“So ang sabi po ng Robinsons at saka ng Imus, matapos po ang Imus, (So according to Robinsons and Imus, after Imus) they have also tapped local governments of Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagum City and Valencia in Bukidnon for future drive-through initiatives. Lahat po iyan suportado ni Presidente (All these are supported by the President) because it means bringing the vaccines to the people,” he said. (PNA)
