44% of 1.8-M target vaccinated under 'Bakunahan 4' —DOH exec

The Philippine government has attained 44.49% of its 1.8 million targeted individuals under for the fourth wave of the "Bayanihan, Bakunahan" national vaccination drive (NVD), which aims to raise the country’s inoculation coverage against COVID-19.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Department of Health undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje reported that 836,162 cumulative doses were administered.

"Nakapagbakuna tayo ng 836,000 cumulative doses or 44.49% ng ating target, at karamihan dito ay mga second dose at booster doses. Nakita natin mababa ang ating coverage ng seniors," she said.

(We were able to administer over 836,000 cumulative doses or 44.49% of our target, where mostly were second-dose and booster jabs. The coverage for senior citizens is low.)

Of the number, a total of 202,915 first doses were administered; 359,546 second doses; and 273,701 booster shots.

Meanwhile, a total of 23,868 doses were administered for the A2 category of senior citizens.

"The complacency is still there, other Filipinos think they no longer need the boosters doses as they already received their second doses and the COVID-19 cases were decreasing," Cabotaje said.

"Pangalawa, pareho pa rin 'yung pananaw ng ating senior citizens, mamamatay na sila, hindi na nila kailangan ng mga bakuna," she added.

(Some senior citizens have the view that they won't live much longer anyway, thus, vaccination is unnecessary.) —LBG, GMA News