FIFTY million Filipinos who have completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines have yet to get the first booster shot, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said yesterday.
In a press briefing, Vergeire said only 21 million individuals have received booster shots out of the 73.79 million fully-vaccinated Filipinos.
“All over the country, we only have 26 percent with booster shots out of all eligible population,” she said. “Imagine this: 50 million Filipinos without first booster shots.”
Department of Health records show 73,790,445 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated as of December 5, while only 21,022,878 have received the booster.
Vergeire said the low booster shot coverage is unacceptable as individuals who have not received the booster are at risk of becoming severe and critical COVID-19 cases.
“According to scientific evidence, the immunity from the first and second doses eventually go down. Therefore, getting booster shots is necessary for their immunity to increase once again,” she said.
Vergeire said the country could runs the risk of again seeing scenes during COVID-19 waves.
“If you can remember then, hospitals were full, patients staying in their cars waiting for rooms available, long queues to buy oxygen tanks… These are the scenes we don’t want to see again,” said Vergeire.
Vergeire also asked parents and guardians of children aged 5 to 11 years to have them vaccinated against COVID-19 so they can fully enjoy the Christmas season.
“Now that we are closer to Christmas, there will be more activities for children. They will want to go to their godparents, to malls to buy toys, and go caroling with their friends in their communities. In order for them to be able to do all these activities safely, bring them to the nearest health centers and get them vaccinated against COVID-19,” she said.
She reiterated that ZCOVID-19 vaccines are “safe and effective” and this is “supported by scientific evidence.”
She warned parents and guardians against misinformation and disinformation.
Earlier, the DOH reported that only 5,333,423 children aged 5 to 11 years have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of November 30.
This is merely 48.9 percent of the 10,895,015 target population for the age group.
