More than 3 million people have become fully vaccinated since the government started its free inoculation drive last March.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced the latest milestone in the vaccination efforts as he encouraged other people to receive their shots to enhance protection against the virus.
Of the 12.48 million doses administered, Roque said 9,399,801 people have received the first dose while 3,089,976 got their second shot of the vaccines.
"Conservative number pa po ito at inaasahan natin na tataas pa ang bilang kapag dumating na ang mga numero mula sa mga lokal na pamahalaan at pribadong sektor (This is a conservative number and we expect it to increase once the numbers from local government and private sector are included)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Thursday, July 8.
The country has so far received more than 17 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, the bulk of which were given to health workers, seniors, people with comorbidity and essential workers.
Roque announced the country is expected to receive additional supply of 1,124,100 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines Thursday night, a donation from the government of Japan.
Another 2,028,000 million AstraZeneca jabs under the COVAX facility are also expected to arrive this week. The delivery of around 170,000 Sputnik V dose, procured by the government, will also arrive this week.
“Tara na po at magpabakuna, lalo na ang mga lolo at lola at iyong mga may co-morbidities, at magkaroon ng dagdag na proteksyon (Let's get vaccinated especially the senior citizens and those with comorbidity to get additional protection)," he said.
Roque assured the public that the first and second doses of the coronavirus vaccines are free of charge.
The government is aiming to reach population protection, or 50 percent of the populace of Metro Manila and other high-risk areas, before the end of the year.
READ: Duterte condemns 'alarming' sale of COVID vaccines, seeks punishment of culprits
President Duterte earlier denounced the unlawful sale of coronavirus vaccines and ordered authorities to run after the perpetrators. Duterte said the illegal sale of the vaccines was "alarming," insisting "we will not allow perpetrators to go unpunished."
"Do not press your luck too far. You might regret it," he warned the illegal vaccine sellers during a public address on July 5.