More than 24 million doses of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines administered, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, August 9.
Data from the DOH showed that as of August 8, a total of 24,479,750 doses have already been administered.
The Health department said 13,087,781 have received their first doses while 11,391,969 have already gotten the complete protection of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Those who received their first doses were workers in frontline health services totaling 2,061,078; senior citizens 2,976,900; individuals with comorbidity 4,093,867; frontline personnel in essential sector 3,333,680; and indigent population 622,256.
As for the number of those who completed their second doses 1,730,762 workers in frontline health services; 3,318,212 senior citizens; 4,244,272 individuals with comorbidity; 1,734,089 frontline personnel in essential sector; and indigent population 364,634.
In the vaccination rollout update, the DOH and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 also said that the total doses administered in the 23rd week of the national vaccination reached 3,616,206 doses with 516,601 average daily administered doses.
The Health department urged the public to get vaccinated and continue to follow the health protocols.
"Our defense against COVID-19 and its variants is by following the minimum public health standards and getting vaccinated. Let's remember to properly wear our masks and face shields, observe physical distancing, wash our hands, and ensure there is ventilation when we are indoors,"the DOH said.
"Also, let's get vaccinated when it's our turn and get the second dose as scheduled. Together, we can beat COVID-19!" it added.
Meanwhile, the DOH said experts has no recommendation yet on booster shots.
"There is no recommendation from Vaccine Experts Panel (VEP) as well as from all experts group. The theme constantly being parlayed is we have to vaccinate the priorities first, get them to highest possible vaccination coverage," Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a television interview.
Asked if there will be penalties for booster shot takers, Duque said:
"We can take this up in the IATF-EID en banc so that we can decide more resolutely if there will be (penalties for) those found out after investigation that they did get booster shots."