Only 6 percent of seniors vaccinated against COVID-19: DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) said only 6 percent of senior citizens in the Philippines have received vaccines against COVID-19, two months after the government rolled out its inoculation program.

Only 466,000 of the 7.7 million senior citizens in the country were vaccinated, according to DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, chairperson of the National Vaccination Operations Center.

“Karamihan ng A2 (senior citizens) at A3 (persons with comorbidities), dito lang sa NCR (National Capital Region), Calabarzon at Region 3 kasi sila ang binuhusan natin ng bakuna,” she told state television PTV.

(Most of the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities that were vaccinated are from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Region 3 because this is where we poured the vaccines.)

“Konting-konti lang po ‘yung sa ibang region,” she said.

(There were only few from other regions.)

NCR Plus (Metro Manila and nearby provinces) is under modified enhanced community quarantine since a COVID-19 surge was seen in March.

DOH is coordinating with its regional offices to make the inoculation of senior citizens and other priority groups in other regions faster, Cabotaje said.

“Ang problema noon medyo walang vaccine na available so hesitant sila na mag-start,” she said.

Only 6 percent of seniors vaccinated against COVID-19: DOH