THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said close to 50 million Filipinos are due to receive the booster shots of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.
But data from the DOH showed that 76.13 percent of the total eligible population have yet to be administered with their booster shots, as of July 17.
“Of the total eligible population of 65,340,001, there are 49,747,468 individuals left due for boosters,” said the DOH.
It said the number of individuals who have received their booster shots stand at 15,592,533, which is only 23.86 percent of the total eligible population.
DOH data also showed that there are currently 71,322,848 fully vaccinated individuals in the Philippines, while the number of partially vaccinated individuals stands at 4,636,010.
Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) member Dr. Rontgene Solante had earlier called on the government to make booster shots mandatory amid the waning immunity of the COVID-19 primary vaccine series.
Malacañang has said there was no need to make booster shots mandatory because vaccination rates were already on the rise.
President Marcos has also said there was no need for a law that would require Filipinos to avail of COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.
Mandatory vaccination was an option also raised during the administration of former President Duterte but there was no push to pass legislation for it.
The Marcos administration is set to conduct a booster shot campaign throughout the country in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes in public schools and the easing of safety protocols.
