Philippines Ready to Begin Vaccination

The Philippines hopes to start COVID-19 vaccinations next week,  aims to give shots to more than half of the population by the end of the year, government officials said on  Monday.

“Just a few more nights of sleep, and the first batch of our vaccine will arrive,’’ presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

“The government is ready to start the vaccination drive on Feb.15.’’

Roque said the government has identified priority population groups for the vaccination, and health care workers are on top of the list to receive the shots, followed by the elderly, persons with co-morbidities, and other front line beneficiaries.

Local government units have also identified vaccination sites in their localities, officials said.

The Philippines is expecting to receive more than 9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the global alliance COVAX Facility by the middle of February, Roque said.

“If (the supplies) arrive, we only need a day or two to start the vaccination,’’ he added.

“It’s just a matter of when the plane carrying the vaccines will actually land (in Manila).’’

The government is aiming to vaccinate between 70 million and 80 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity, said Carlito Galvez Jr, head of the government’s vaccination programme.

“In the best-case scenario, if we have enough supply, we can inoculate 50 to 70 million by December,’’ he said.

“If there will be a shortage in supplies, the worst-case scenario in the middle of 2022.’’

The Philippines’ COVID-19 caseload totalled 538,995 as of Monday, with the Department of Health reporting 1,690 additional Coronavirus infections.

The death toll was up 52 to 11,231, it added.