DOH: PH fully vaccinates 75% of target population

According to the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine government has fully vaccinated 75% of its target population, while new COVID-19 infections continue to fall.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the government has delivered primary doses to 67.9 million people, or 75% of the planned target of 90 million, before the conclusion of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tenure.

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According to the DOH data, 6.7 million people are over 65, 8.9 million are immunocompromised, 2 million are children aged 5 to 11, 9.2 million are teenagers, and the rest are from the general population.

Thirteen million people have already had their booster doses, and another 38.7 million are eligible. According to Vergeire, a second booster was given to 7,430 immunocompromised people.

According to Vergeire, coronavirus cases have decreased since the omicron form was introduced to the country.

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“Overall, the national positivity rate is still at a slow decline at 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent from last week. Ito na rin po ang pinakamababa nating nairecord sa loob ng isang linggo simula nung 2021,” the official told reporters.

“Mas mababa ito ng 23 percent kumpara nung pinakamababang naitala bago tayo magkaroon ng omicron situation.”

DOH: PH fully vaccinates 75% of target population

According to Vergeire, the DOH is watching five cities in Metro Manila (Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, and Makati) after showing favorable growth in the previous year two weeks.

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She said this increase is significant.

“Wala pong nagtatranslate sa average daily attack rate (ADAR) na mataas, o pagpuno ng hospital. Healthcare utilization is still less than 20 percent,” she said.

“Transmission is still there so we expect na magkakaroon at magkakaroon pa rin ng mga kaso (there will still be new cases). Di po tayo bababa sa 0 cases talaga (Our new cases won’t reach 0). We are here to live with the virus.”

Meanwhile, aside from those confirmed positive for COVID-19, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified that it will prohibit the release of home or quarantine facilities of close contacts of patients who wish to vote on May 9th.

Last Friday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner George Garcia said that COVID-19 patients isolated in their homes or healthcare facilities on election day would no longer be allowed to vote.

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