Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19) — Only around 1.7 million Filipinos have gotten their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots since the start of the Marcos administration — a long way from the 23 million target by early October, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Friday.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire said 1,729,547 booster doses have so far been administered, a mere 7.5% of the government’s goal by Oct. 8, which marks President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 100th day in office.
“Unfortunately, malayo pa po ang ating accomplishments from our target. Atin pong pinaiigting ang atin pong mga stratehiya para mas magpabakuna at mahikayat ang ating mga kababayan na ma-receive ang kanilang first booster shots,” she said.
[Translation: Unfortunately, our accomplishments are still far from our target. We are strengthening our strategies to encourage the public to get their first booster shot.]
Vergeire reiterated the DOH’s appeal for Filipinos to get the extra dose, as she noted projections that hospital admissions may rise by September or October if the country’s booster uptake doesn’t improve.
Based on official data, over 17.3 million people nationwide have received their first booster since the government began administering the shots in November 2021.
More than 1.9 million people, meanwhile, have gotten their second booster dose. Currently, only healthcare workers, senior citizens, adults with comorbidities, and those aged 50 and up are eligible to get the second extra shot.
Nearly 72.3 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, DOH figures also showed.
