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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 23 cities achieve population protection vs COVID-19, says DILG Chief

23 cities achieve population protection vs COVID-19, says DILG Chief

Published Dec 10, 2021 11:27 am

A total of 23 in the country have already reached population protection after vaccinating 70 percent of the population of their targeted "priority groups," Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday, Dec. 10.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (DILG photo)

However, Año explained that these cities have yet to achieve herd immunity -- which is the actual target of the government -- by vaccinating 70 percent of the total population of a particular area.

“I would like to correct na hindi pa iyan herd immunity kundi population protection dahil more than 70 percent ng target population (priority groups) are already vaccinated. Herd immunity is based on actual population (I would like to correct that it is not yet herd immunity but population protection because more than 70 percent of the target population (priority groups) were already vaccinated),’’ Año said in an interview over GMA News.

Año stated that for the country to achieve herd immunity, local government units (LGUs) still need to vaccinate 70 percent of their total population to attain protection for everyone.

“Just the same, we have to inoculate other areas/LGUs to ensure the protection of everyone. At least in those 23 cities, protection against COVID and safety of people living there are ensured,” he added.

Earlier, Año pointed out that 70 percent of the target qualified persons in 23 highly urbanized areas received full vaccination with most of them coming from Metro Manila.

These highly urbanized areas include San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, Pateros, Las Piñas City, Parañaque City, Manila, Muntinlupa City, Makati City, Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Navotas City, Pasig City, Malabon City and Caloocan City in Metro Manila and Baguio City, Angeles City, Iloilo City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City and Davao City in the provinces.

DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya emphasized that there is no absolute protection from COVID-19 in any country but vaccination helps in preventing hospitalization, severe cases, and deaths.

He noted that the DILG has been monitoring the vaccination of the cities as these areas are the drivers of infection.

“By achieving herd immunity in the cities, we reduce the likelihood of infections in other parts of the country. When we achieved herd immunity in NCR, cases across the country began to tumble,” Malaya said.

“The same thing is happening in the provinces when the provincial cities achieved herd immunity. That’s why it’s critical that the DILG monitor the cities because they are the epicenters of infection in their areas,” he added.

Related Tags

covid-19 herd immunity population protection 23 cities Eduardo Año 2
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