President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the authorities and local government units (LGUs) to look for those given the first dose but have not yet received their second COVID-19 vaccine.
“I want the authorities and the LGUs to find out why this is happening and to take steps to return to their — maimbiyerna sila na madala ng mga barangay captain pati mayors. Kindly help us ferret out the persons who have not received the second booster until now,” said Duterte.
Duterte also asked those who need to receive the second dose to line up again at vaccination sites.
The President explained that protection against the virus is not complete if the second dose is not given.
“Alam mo ang medisina nitong mga Sinovac, Sinopharm and the rest, dito ngayon — which are available in the Philippines, they require a second dose, booster. At kayong iisa lang, kulang ‘yan. Pakilinya lang ulit for the second dose because ang protection ninyo is not complete without the booster,” said Duterte.
Duterte also admitted that it is difficult to convince Filipinos who are stubborn.
Duterte orders to look for those who did not get 2nd dose
But Duterte also added that there is no guarantee that those vaccinated will not get COVID-19, so it is still important to follow health protocols.
Meanwhile, it is expected that 30 to 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines will arrive from this June to August.
According to Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, the government will receive 10 to 11 million doses of the vaccine this June, including 5.5 million from China’s Sinovac Biotech and 1 million that last Sunday.
Additionally, 1 million doses are coming on June 10; 4.2M from the vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility, including 2M Pfizer doses also coming on June 10 and 2M AstraZeneca; 250,000 Moderna and 100,000 Sputnik V vaccines of Russia.
According to Galvez, up to 400,000 to 500,000 people could be vaccinated every day next month.
“Dadagsa na po ang bulto ng ating mga bakuna… All in all, makaka-receive po tayo ng 30 to 40 million ngayong June, July, and August,” said Galvez.
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