The Pateros municipal government has reached 99.5 percent of the newly adjusted target population for COVID-19 first dose vaccination.
In a live broadcast Sunday, Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III said that as of Aug. 14, the first dose vaccination in Pateros totaled 55,720 individuals, or 99.5 percent of the new target population of 56,000, equivalent to 80 percent of the estimated total population of 70,000.

The Pateros municipal government originally set the target population for vaccination at 49,000, or 70 percent of the target population, but increased it to 80 percent due to the increasing number of people wanting to get the jabs.
In addition, Ponce said the second dose vaccination has reached nearly 60 percent of the target, or more than 33,000.
Pateros, being the smallest local government unit (LGU) in the National Capital Region (NCR), has the smallest target population for vaccination.
The municipal government has become strict in screening people wanting to get vaccinated after non-Pateros residents were found to have been inoculated.
Ponce said only residents and non-residents who work in Pateros are qualified to be vaccinated in the municipality.
“The reason why we are very strict is that we want to get the right data on how many people in Pateros have been vaccinated. There were some who were able to pass through but these are only a few. I believe we have already achieved herd immunity under the first dose,” he said.
He explained that people need to show an ID or proof that they are residents or workers in Pateros.
In addition, the municipal government has launched its home vaccination program for bedridden senior citizens.