The local government units that will receive the single-shot Janssen vaccine are asked to use up their supply until Dec. 27.
Presidential Adviser on Covid-19 Response and testing czar Vince Dizon said both heads of the National Task Force against Covid-19 and Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases have set a timeline for LGUs to deplete all their supplies of Janssen vaccine before the end of the year.
“By Dec. 27 dapat maubos na ang ating mga Janssen at napakalaking bagay po ‘yan kasi isang turok lang eh fully vaccinated na ang ating mga kababayan,” Dizon said.
He said using the single-dose vaccines would help the country achieve population protection this year, as the government aims to fully inoculate at least 54 million Filipinos.
“This is very important because one shot of Janssen fully vaccinates an individual,” he said.
Latest data from the National Covid-19 dashboard showed the Philippines has administered 99,139,602 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
Of the number, 55,631,318 doses were used as first shots; 42,576,087 were second doses; and 932,197 were given as boosters and additional doses to eligible individuals.
Dizon said more than nine million Janssen jabs will arrive within the remainder of 2021.
“Ang pakiusap lang po namin ay ubusin natin ‘yung makukuha niyong vaccine bago matapos ang taon,” he said.
The Philippines has received more than nine million doses of Janssen vaccine from European countries since Dec. 13. – PNA
