General population’s COVID-19 vaccination to begin in October

Vaccination against COVID-19 will be open to all Filipinos starting October, which means that sectors that are not a priority in the vaccine rollout can now be vaccinated.

“Magsisimula na po ang pagbabakuna sa general population, ito pong Oktubre. Ito ay inaprubahan na ng Pangulo sang-ayon sa advise ni Secretary [Carlito Galvez] Galvez,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Also among those to be vaccinated next month are young people aged 12 and over.

“Ang hinihikayat natin ngayon ay magpa-masterlisting na po ang mga magulang ng mga kabataan para mapalistahan na ang mga kabataan kapag nagsimula na tayo,” said Roque.

The Food and Drug Administration has previously approved the emergency use of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 12 and older.

According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, the government targets injecting up to 55 million doses of the vaccine in the month of October or around 500,000 to 800,000 doses per day.

A large volume of vaccine donations is expected from the COVAX Facility and those purchased by the government in the coming weeks.

General population’s COVID-19 vaccination to begin in October

“We will administer 55 million doses. Puwede pa itong umakyat kapag nagkaroon tayo ng mataas na capacity sa ating mga LGUs (local government units) at sa ating key cities,” said Galvez.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte said he believes the state has the power to make vaccination against COVID-19 mandatory for every Filipino.

“You know, I do not want to advance this theory, but under the police power of the state, everybody can be compelled to be vaccinated. Not because we do not believe in your theory or belief or your religion but because you are a carrier and a danger to society,” said Duterte.

According to Malacañang, government employees can resign if they refuse to be vaccinated.

But Roque clarified that law is still needed to make vaccination mandatory.

The Civil Service Commission will convene a meeting with government employees regarding the president’s mandate on vaccination.