Sixty-three million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) almost one year since the Philippine government started the vaccination program, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.

“As of Feb. 25, meron na tayong total na 63 million na (we now have a total of 63 million) fully vaccinated. So, that is 70 percent of our target of 90 million,” said DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje during a public briefing on Saturday, Feb. 26.

At least 300,000 to 500,000 people are being vaccinated per day, said Cabotaje. The government began its COVID-19 vaccination program last March 1, 2021.

The regions with high vaccination coverage include Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas.

However, the government needs to ramp up the vaccination efforts in other regions, particularly in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Central Visayas, said Cabotaje.

“Kailangan pagibayuhin yung pagsusuyod, ilapit ang vaccination centers doon sa mga population na medyo malayo—yung mga GIDA areas—sa key cities o center of economic activities (We need to increase the coverage and bring the vaccination activities closer to people living in GIDA areas or those far away from key cities or centers of economic activities),” she said.

Cabotaje said that some local government units started their house-to-house campaigns to vaccinate eligible individuals. Other strategies to increase vaccination coverage include, tapping Catholic churches as inoculation centers and setting up drive-thru vaccination, among others.

‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan 4’

The government is also eyeing to conduct the fourth round of the ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan’ or national vaccination drive on March 7, said Cabotaje.

Cabotaje said they are targeting to vaccinate more senior citizens in order to protect them against COVID-19.

“Ipo-focus natin sa mga A2–ang ating mga senior citizens sa mga areas na mababa pa. Tapos pag-iibayuhin din natin yung mga 12 to 17 na immunization kasi nga mag face-to-face classes na yung mga 12 to 17 (We will focus on the A2 – our senior citizens in areas that still have low coverage. Then we will also increase the immunization among those aged 12 to 17 because they will be attending face-to-face classes soon),” she said.

“Tapos syempre yung mga hindi pa nagbakuna ng first and second dose, kailangan pa rin natin i-improve yung first and second dose and later on yung ating mga boosters (Then, of course, those who have not yet been vaccinated either the first or the second dose. We still need to improve the vaccination of the first and second dose and later on our boosters),” she added.