Filipinos waiting for their coronavirus shots will soon get their turn as more coronavirus vaccines will be delivered to the country, President Duterte declared Monday.
In his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA) Monday, July 26, the President said around 36 million coronavirus vaccines are expected to arrive in the county this July and August.
At present, the country has secured 31.3 million coronavirus jabs, including the latest deliveries of 375,570 Pfizer jabs and 1 million Sinovac doses procured by the government. Over 7 million people have already been fully vaccinated.
"Currently, we have received over 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. We expect to receive at least 36 million vaccines this month and in August. We have inoculated more than 17 million Filipinos—around 11 million of which have received their first dose," he said.
"With the continuous arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, we are ready to boost further our daily vaccination rate," he said.
Duterte also urged local government units to hasten their vaccine rollout and strengthen their inoculation program. He cited that San Juan City would have vaccinated 70 percent of its population in a month’s time.
Duterte, however, reminded anew local officials not to let their constituents wade through floodwaters and wait in line for hours just to get vaccinated. He said safe and dry vaccination sites should be readied for the people.
He also stressed that vaccination remained the "best solution" to the coronavirus threat. He asked people now in the list of sectors to be vaccinated to get jabbed "now." To those who received their first doses, he reminded them to return for their second shot.
"I also ask for patience to those who are next in line to receive their vaccine. More and more COVID-19 vaccines are arriving each week and you will soon have your turn," he said.