Metro Manila can achieve herd immunity in less than 2 months: OCTA

The OCTA Research group projected Wednesday that Metro Manila could achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 in less than two months if 300,000 vaccine doses would be given in the capital region per day.

According to OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco O.P., 70 percent of the estimated 13.8 million Filipinos in Metro Manila or 9.66 million adults should be inoculated to achieve herd immunity in Metro Manila.

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“For herd immunity, if we are going to vaccinate 100,000 doses per day, it would take 6 months, 200,000, three months, and 300,000, one a half months,” he said.

“If we want to achieve herd immunity in the NCR by Christmas, the target has to be around 200,000 doses per day in the NCR,” he added.

According to presidential spokesperson Harry , the national government targets to inoculate 58 million or 70% of 83 million people in COVID-19 hotspots to achieve herd immunity.

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Roque said the hotspots include the National Capital Region, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal.

Meanwhile, the expansion areas included Region 3, Region 4,  de Oro, Baguio City, Zamboanga City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, General Santos, Iligan City, Region 7 and Region 11, Region 10, Region 6, Region 8, Region 9, Region 2, Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 5, Region 1, Region 12 and Region 13.

Metro Manila can achieve herd immunity in less than 2 months: OCTA

The said areas have a total population of 83,829,719. The 70% of that number is 58,680,803.

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This is just our answer to a medical fact,” he added.

The easing of lockdowns and  protocols, Roque said, will be hugely dependent on the  coverage.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte reminded the people not to be “choosy” when it comes to the  brand that will be given to them.

According to the President, all COVID-19 vaccines are effective, and he does not want to have an issue that he is favoring any vaccine brand.

“They are all potent. They are all effective. So wala — there’s no reason for you really to be choosy about it. The only reason is ayaw kong magkaroon ng — magkaroon ng ano ‘yong istorya na may pinapaboran kami na itong ito. Wala,” said Duterte.

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