Malacañang revealed that more than 5.2 million Filipinos have completed their vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In his press briefing on Thursday, July 22, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that a total of 5,231,469 individuals have received their required two doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of July 21.
So far, a total of 10,722,442 individuals have received at least a dose of COVID-19 vaccines, making the total number of administered doses to 15,953,911 since the vaccination program started on March 1.
As of July 22, a total of 29,985,130 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in the country, including the 562,770 doses of government-procured Pfizer vaccines that arrived on Wednesday.
President Duterte has been encouraging the public to get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying the government had no other goal but to ensure the safety and health of the people.
"Vaccines lang ito talaga (Vaccines are really the answer)," he said.
"The importance of vaccines, you must get the vaccine or you die. Ilang beses na 'yang sinasabi (We've been saying that), many times," he added.
He, however, has admitted that he was "exasperated" with some Filipinos who refused to heed the government’s plea for vaccination, even calling those who refuse to get vaccinated as "fools."
"Itong mga buang na ito (These fools), they not only endanger themselves and their family, but everybody they come in contact with," Duterte said.
Last month, President Duterte threatened to order the arrest of the anti-vaxxers or people who refuse to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.