The government is determined to prove wrong a foreign think tank that projected the Philippines could become among the last to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus in Asia.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said more coronavirus vaccines could be administered to the people as additional supplies are expected to be delivered to the country.
The government aims to initially attain "population protection" in National Capital Region and other high-risk areas before the end of 2021, he added.
"We will prove them wrong," Roque said during a media interview at a vaccination hub in Parañaque City Wednesday, June 23 after Pantheon Macroeconomics claimed that Philippines may be among the last to achieve herd immunity due to its sluggish vaccination.
"I think ang basehan kasi ng think tank na 'yan must have been our pace of vaccination early on na talagang Sinovac lang ang meron tayo at kakaunting AtraZeneca. Pero dumating na nga po ang ating mga bakuna at mas marami pang darating (I think the think tank's basis must have been our pace of vaccination early on when we only had Sinovac and a few AstraZeneca jabs. But the vaccines have arrived and more are forthcoming)," he added.
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The country has so far received 14.2 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, including the recent shipments from Sinovac and Pfizer. More than 2 million people, mostly health workers, seniors and those with comorbidity, have completed their two-dose vaccination since the government's inoculation program started last March.
The government originally aimed to vaccinate 58 million to 70 million adult Filipinos before the end of the year to reach herd immunity. But after encountering delays in vaccine delivery, it lowered its vaccination goal and opted to aim for "population protection" in National Capital Region and eight other areas with high coronavirus cases instead. NCR Plus covers Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, and Rizal.
COVID-19 containment can be attained once 40 to 50 percent of the population are vaccinated. Around 70 to 80 percent of the population, on the other hand, must be vaccinated to reach herd immunity, according to health authorities.
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Roque noted that the country has already reached an all-time high of 350,000 daily vaccination rate. He said they are confident the daily vaccination rate can hit 500,000 once more vaccines arrive in the country.
Asked how soon the country can attain herd immunity, Roque claimed that this was a "different concept."
Roque instead chose to highlight the government's goal for COVID-19 containment by December, saying this could be "achievable."
"We're still aiming na at least when we go outdoors, it could be a mask-less Christmas," he said.
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