Department of the Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año said 23 cities in the country have reached population protection against the Covid-19.
“I would like to correct that it is not yet herd immunity but population protection because more than 70 percent of the target population (priority groups) were already vaccinated. Herd immunity is based on actual population,” Año said in a message to reporters.
He said the country still needs to vaccinate individuals in other local government units to attain protection for everyone.
“Just the same, we have to inoculate other areas/LGUs to ensure the protection of everyone. At least in those 23 cities, protection against Covid-19 and safety of people living there are ensured,” he added.
Baguio City is one of the cities that attained population protection along with San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, Pateros, Las Piñas City, Parañaque City, Manila, Muntinlupa City, Makati City, Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Navotas City, Pasig City, Marikina City, Taguig City, Malabon City, and Caloocan City in Metro Manila, the municipality of Pateros, Angeles City, Iloilo City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Davao City.
In a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, Año said the National Vaccination Days from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 were successful as a total of 8,090,078 doses were administered to qualified individuals during the period, which is equivalent to a vaccination accomplishment rate of 89.9 percent.
He said the 89.9 percent vaccination rate accomplishment was based on the government’s committed target of 8,998,947 individuals.
In terms of the highest number of Covid-19 doses administered to the target individuals, Año said Calabarzon came out on top with 1,147,392 doses, followed by Central Luzon and Central Visayas with 838,270 and 649,195 jabs, respectively.
With regards to the committed target, he noted the Ilocos region topped the list with 322.66 percent, followed by the NCR (172.23 percent) and the Cordillera region (158.56 percent).
At the provincial level, Año said 14 out of the 81 provinces accomplished full inoculation of 50 percent or more of their target constituents.
These provinces are Abra, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Batanes, Quirino, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Siquijor, Biliran, and Camiguin.
“Our next target on Dec. 15, 16, and 17 is to increase the administration of second doses to target individuals to make them fully vaccinated,” he said. – PNA
