Achieving the 70 percent vaccination target this year is a "matter of choice" for the public to help end the critical phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, Malacañang said.
"The acute phase of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), could end this year, of course, with one qualifier — that the 70 percent vaccination target is achieved by the middle of this year," Cabinet secretary and acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
"Achieving this, according to the WHO, is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. Ibig pong sabihin, nasa kamay po nating lahat (It is in our hands)," he added.
According to Nograles, the government is clear in its objective to inoculate 90 million Filipinos before the end of President Duterte's term which is more than the 70 percent required by the WHO.
With this, Nograles urged anew those unvaccinated to already get their vaccines against COVID-19, while booster shots for those who have already completed their jabs.
"Napakalinaw na po ng ebidensiya na ligtas at epektibo ang bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Dagdag dito, libre po ito (The evidence is very clear that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. In addition, these are administered for free)," Nograles said.
"Huwag sana nating palampasin ang pagkakataong ito dahil iisa ang ating gustong mangyari, ang magbalik normal ang buhay nating lahat (Let us not miss this opportunity because we only want one thing to happen, to get our lives back to normal)," he added.
President Duterte, in his late-night public address on Monday, Feb. 14, renewed his appeal to the public to get vaccinated against the dreaded disease.
Duterte said he would happily exit the Malacañang grounds if the majority of Filipinos are fully vaccinated.
The government is now working to fully vaccinate 77 million adults against COVID-19 by the end of the first quarter of the year to ensure the safety of the voters in the 2022 elections.
Data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard showed that as of Feb. 9, a total of 60,013,407 individuals have completed their vaccinations, while 8,011,994 already get their booster jabs.