LPP: Lack of vaccinators stopping LGUs from hitting vaccine targets

The League of Provinces of the Philippines has cited the lack of vaccinators as the reason why several local government units have failed to hit their targets during the government’s three-day national vaccination drive, the LPP president said Saturday.

“There are several LGUs that have insufficient numbers of vaccinators. That's why they haven’t met their target number to be vaccinated… but their supply of vaccines is enough,” LPP president and Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. said in a mix of English and Filipino in an interview on Dobol B TV.

Velasco said 31 provinces have met 50% of their targets while 45% hit below 50% of their goals.

“Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Siquijor, at Camiguin,  reached or surpassed 100% of their target number of individuals to be vaccinated during the ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan’,” he noted.

The government had gone ahead with the national vaccination drive despite lacking 51,000 more volunteers, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) earlier said. 

From November 29 to December 1, the government conducted a nationwide vaccination drive, which was later extended up to December 3.

Over 7.6 million individuals were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the three-day vaccination drive, short of its adjusted 9-million target. 

Apart from the lack of vaccinators, Velasco said provinces also encountered problems with their supply of syringes and brand preference among vaccinees.

The government is targeting at least 54 million Filipinos to vaccinate against COVID-19 by the end of the year.

Earlier, the National Task Force against CVOID-19 and the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) said that another three-day national vaccination marathon will be held from December 15 to 17. —LBG, GMA News