Despite failing to meet its vaccination targets last month, the government is determined in achieving its goal to vaccinate another 36 million individuals against Covid-19 by midyear.
During the public address of President Duterte on Monday, National Task Force for Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito G. Galvez Jr. said their latest goal would include the inoculation of 3 million unvaccinated senior citizens.
It also includes the vaccination of 26.67 million minors. Of which, 15.56 are in the 5 to 11 years old, while 11.11 million are in the 11 months to 4 years old age group.
Galvez noted the vaccination of these groups would help the government meet its goal of vaccinating 90 million Filipinos before the end of June 2022.
As of January 10, the government was only able to fully vaccinate 52.86 million Filipinos.
It was supposed to have vaccinated 54 million individuals last month, but the said goal was derailed after typhoon Odette (international code name Rai) devastated six regions in the country.
“Their vaccination outputs are still in reduced capacities because some of them still do not still have 100 percent electricity services,” Galvez said.
The vaccine czar said other factors, which could hamper their inoculation drive this year, is the recent surge in Covid-19 cases, upcoming 2022 national and local Elections, vaccine preference and slower administration rollout of boosters, and limited supply of vaccines for minors.
The government maintained the vaccination of most of the country’s over 100 million population will be crucial to minimize the economic disruption of Covid-19 in the country.