The country is aiming to inoculate more than 70,000 people per day next month as more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines have arrived in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
"We hope we can reach 70,(000) or higher...We would like to reach at least more than 70,000 per day for the next month," said DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje during the Laging Handa press briefing on Wednesday, May 12.
Cabotaje said that the nation's current daily vaccination capacity is at 60,000.
"For the next quarter, we will have more, we will have to have 100,000 to 200,000 more per day," she added.
The Health official also noted that the vaccination sites nationwide should also be increased to achieve the target on vaccination per day. Currently, the total number of vaccinations sites in the country stood at 1,047.
"Yes, because marami na tayong vaccines, so kailangan para ma-meet yung ating (we already have a lot of vaccines, so we need to meet our) target jabs per day, we need to expand the existing number of vaccination sites," she said.
A total of 2,539,693 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have already been administered since the start of the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program last March.
Cabotaje said that 2,025,038 people received their first dose, while 514,655 individuals completed the required two doses.
Based on the DOH data, 355,242 healthcare workers have been fully vaccinated, while 1,195,381 already received their first dose.
There were 25,070 senior citizens that were already able to receive their second dose, while 466,899 got their first dose.
Also, 134,343 individuals with comorbidities have been fully vaccinated, while 353,842 got their first dose.
The inoculation of frontline personnel in essential sectors has also begun as 8,916 people already got their first dose.