Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) — A health official warned the country’s COVID-19 vaccination rate is slowing down, and that the public has “no sense of urgency” in receiving booster shots.
“Ang numero nang pagbabakuna sa nakalipas na linggo ay mahina lalong lalo na ang boosters. Habang ang hesitancy ay bumaba, walang urgency ‘yung pagpapa-booster,” Department of Health (DOH) Usec. Myrna Cabotaje said during a virtual briefing on Saturday.
[Translation: The number of vaccinations in the past week has been slow, especially the boosters. As hesitancy subsides, there’s no urgency in getting boosters.]
Currently, the country’s vaccination rate has been averaging 300,000, the official said. The figure is significantly lower than the previous 1 million to 1.5 million doses administered each day.
Cabotaje said the government has been having a hard time reaching “other segments of the population” – prompting the DOH to recalibrate its efforts.
For the fourth wave of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” slated on March 10 to 12, Cabotaje said the government will prioritize those areas that have yet to hit 70% vaccination rate.
“Mas granular. I-prioritize natin per area,” she said.
[Translation: It will be granular. We will prioritize per area.]
READ: Govt to now focus on house-to-house, mobile COVID-19 vaccination
On the proposal to make booster shots mandatory, Cabotaje said the government would instead strengthen its information campaign to entice more Filipinos to get their additional dose.
Before an area could be downgraded to Alert Level 1, local government units must inoculate at least 80% of seniors and 70% of the population in their communities.
The government placed the National Capital Region and 38 other areas under the most relaxed COVID-19 alert status until March 15.
