Malacañang said the government is considering having another run of the National Vaccination Days if it becomes apparent that the target of fully vaccinating 77 million adults before the May 2022 polls may not be reached.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles made the statement following the announcement of the new target to fully vaccinate over 20 million more adults to protect voters who will participate in the elections.
In an interview with One PH's "One Balita Pilipinas" on Wednesday, January 19, Nograles said holding another mass vaccination is not out of the picture.
"If we see the need," he said.
"Pinag-aaralan na po natin 'yan, yung binabanggit niyo na national vaccination days (We're already studying the possibility of the national vaccination days). It's something that we might consider," he added.
The Palace official said the government may resort to mass vaccination if the 77-million target is still not reached by the end of the first quarter.
"Halimbawa matatapos na natin yung first quarater ng 2022 at hindi pa rin nararating yung 77 million target natin (If, for example, the first quarter of 2022 is already done and we're still away from the 77-million target), then, perhaps, it is one of the strategies na iko-consider natin (that we will consider)," he said.
The Philippines has held two National Vaccination Days last year, the first one from November 29 to December 1, and the second one was from December 15 to 17.
During the same interview, Nograles said the government will strive to reach its self-imposed target.
"Ito po yung aming isusulong talaga na marating natin iyon (We will strive to reach that target)," he said.
As of January 18, a total of 56,027,759 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated while 5,362,518 have received their booster shots.