Gov’t urged: Speed up COVID-19 vaccination; program may take over 11 years at current progress rate

By CNN Philippines Staff

Published Mar 12, 2021 12:31:49 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)— A senator on Friday urged the government to expedite the
COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the country, warning that the inoculation program may last for over 11 years
if the current progress rate isn’t changed.Citing personal computations, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson
said the Philippines may only be able to wrap up the drive by 2033 if the daily vaccination numbers don’t
spike.

“Kung hindi mag-accelerate ‘yung pace ng vaccination, at assuming na darating lahat ‘yung supply na
ine-expect for 70 million targeted population to achieve herd immunity, then we’ll have a problem
because aabutin tayo ng 2033 and at the rate we’re doing,” Lacson told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

“It will take us 11 years and eight months to finish, assuming na darating ‘yung 140 plus million doses,” he
explained. “Pero kung maga-accelerate and I hope the government will accelerate the vaccination rollout,
then maybe we can advance yung timetable natin.”

[Translation: If we don’t accelerate the pace, and assuming that all supply expected for 70 million targeted
population to achieve herd immunity, then we’ll have a problem because it will take us until 2033 at the
rate we’re doing it now. It will take us 11 years and eight months to finish assuming that all 140 plus
million doses will arrive. But if we accelerate, and I hope the government will accelerate the vaccination
rollout, then maybe we can advance our timetable.]

The Health Department, in response, stressed that the country's vaccination drive has just kicked off, and
expressed hope that the numbers would rise by the day.

“Hindi pa nabibigay sa lahat ng regions at tuloy-tuloy ang distribution (We haven’t given all regions yet,
and the distribution is underway)” DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergerie said in a media forum in
the same day.

She added authorities have also contacted vaccination sites and concerned regional directors to help
quicken the process.
As of Thursday, the agency reported that 76% of the 1.125 million doses received by the Philippines have
already been deployed. DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III added around 11,000 healthcare workers are
being vaccinated daily.

Spike in cases alarming'

Meanwhile, Lacson also sounded the alarm over the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country in recent
days, stressing that all citizens should be conscious in following minimum health protocols.He likewise
backed the decision of Metro Manila mayors to impose a curfew in the region, labeling it a “good
move.”“The government should really use its police power because we’re still under a state of public
health emergency,” Lacson said.The country for the past week has mostly been recording more than
3,000 new COVID cases per day. On Thursday, the DOH reported 3,749 new virus
infections— the highest daily case count after September 19.

Source

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/12/Lacson-COVID-vaccinations-Philippines-2033.html