The Department of Health (DOH) urged the local government units and its other partners to ramp up Covid-19 vaccination efforts to reach their target of vaccinating more than 300,000 people daily for the "Pinaslakas" vaccination campaign.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they were not able to meet the target of vaccinating at least 397,000 individuals per day under the said vaccination campaign. This vaccination drive started last July 26 with the aim to increase the first booster uptake.
"Mula July 26 hanggang 31.... nakapagbakuna tayo ng (From July 26 to 31, we were able to vaccinate) 195,000 individuals for their first booster shot," said Vergeire on Tuesday, August 2.
"Pag tiningnan po natin ang mga numero na ito, it has not reached our daily targets. Hindi po tayo nakaabot doon sa ating target na gusto natin that every day, we should have 397,000 individuals given their first booster shots (If we look at these numbers, it has not reached our daily targets. We have not been reaching our daily target of 397,000 individuals to be given their first booster shots)," she said.
The DOH earlier said that it is targeting to give first booster shots to at least 23 million people during the Marcos administration's first 100 days.
"Kaya tayo po talaga ay humihingi ng tulong sa ating mga kasamang ahensya ng gobyerno, sa pribadong sektor, sa ating local governments, para mas paigtingin po natin ang kampanya at magtuloy-tuloy po nating ma-achieve natin yung mga targets na kailangan natin (This is why we are really asking for help from our fellow government agencies, the private sector, our local governments, so that we can intensify the campaign and continue to achieve the targets that we need ) so that we can build the wall of immunity," she said.
As of August 1, more than 71.7 million Filipinos have been fully-vaccinated. Only 16.2 million eligible individuals have so far received their first booster shots, said Vergeire.