More or less 100 million doses of vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are still in the government's stockpile and will be used to vaccinate some 28 million to 30 million Filipinos who remain unvaccinated.
Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the remaining doses are also enough for the booster shots of 25 million Filipinos.
“Mayroon po tayong babakunahan pa na primary series o 'yung unang bakuna sa 28-30 million na katao (We have 28 to 30 million people who are on our primary list or those who are yet to receive the vaccines,” said Galvez.
“Though 'yung 100 million doses na nasa stockpile po natin ay sapat sa remaining primary series ng unvaccinated at para sa 25 million na eligible ngayong quarter for boosters (The 100 million doses in our stockpile are enough for the remaining primary series of unvaccinated and for the 25 million who are eligible for booster this (first) quarter),” he added.
As of January 10, a total of 114,263,805 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide.
Of this number, 52,856,932 individuals are already fully vaccinated.
The vaccination and booster shots that are being eyed to be completed with the first quarter of this year (January to March) is part of the first milestone of the NTF Against COVID-19.
Galvez said they are also eyeing the completion of its target of vaccinating 90 million by the end of the second quarter.
Meanwhile, the third milestone is focused on finishing the primary and booster vaccination of the general population.
“Our last milestone is to finish the boostering of the 71.16 million by the end of third quarter. We will also push for the vaccination of the rest of the population to make sure that all Filipinos are protected by the vaccines,” Galvez said.