Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 15) — The government has fully vaccinated 61.4 million individuals, including 8 million adolescents, against COVID-19, according to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s weekly public address that aired Monday night, Galvez reported that a total of 131.7 million COVID-19 shots have been administered in the country. Around 61.1 million Filipinos, including 100,370 minors aged 5 to 11, have received their first dose.
At least 9.07 million individuals received their booster shots, but Galvez said this number is considered low as Filipinos are being complacent on having only the primary doses. He noted that experts have been pushing for the booster rollout due to the waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
Galvez also reported that 10 regions have fully immunized over 70% of their target population. These are the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Authorities are aiming to fully inoculate around 77 million Filipinos by the first quarter of 2022, and 90 million by the end of the second quarter.
As of Monday, the country’s total tally of COVID-19 infections reached 3,639,942. The government recorded 3,508,239 recoveries and 55,094 deaths.
