Vax drive nets less than 50% of target

MANILA, Philippines — Less than half of the 1.8 million target for the three-day National Vaccination Days (NVD) Part 4 was achieved after the first two days of inoculation, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

At a public briefing, DOH Undersecretary and National Vaccination Operations Center head Myrna Cabotaje said only 836,162 individuals received their COVID-19 jabs during the NVD on March 10 and 11.

Yesterday was the last day of the campaign.

“We were able to vaccinate 836,162 or 44.49 percent of our target … Majority of the vaccinees are for second doses and booster shots,” Cabotaje said.

She noted that the uptake of vaccines among senior citizens remained low, with only 23,868 availing.

Data showed 359,546 individuals availed of the NVD for their second dose and 202,915 for the first dose. There were 273,701 recipients for boosters.

“The complacency is still there because they think they no longer need boosters since they already had the second dose. They also think cases are decreasing so there is no threat anymore,” Cabotaje said, adding that senior citizens also have the fatalistic attitude that they no longer need the vaccines because of old age.

Because of the low turnout, she said the government is studying if there is a need to extend the NVD activities.

“We need to continuously modify our strategies. We need more innovative and creative ways at the community level,” Cabotaje maintained.