Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Wednesday expressed confidence that population protection will be achieved before year-end, as the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines arriving in the country continues to increase.
During the pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) virtual presser, Nograles said the population protection target by end of 2021 is still achievable, considering that the country is expected to receive the biggest vaccine deliveries in July.
“So July, magkakaroon talaga ng surge ng vaccines na darating. Agad naman nating ide-deploy (We expect a surge in vaccine arrival in July and we will deploy the vaccines immediately). And that is a good way to start the second half of the year and we still remain confident that by before the end of 2021, 50 million to 70 million Filipinos will have been inoculated already,” Nograles said.
On Tuesday, National Task Force Against Covid-19 and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country is expecting to receive a total of 16,205,240 doses this month.
With the increasing vaccine stockpile, population protection would be “approaching” by the third quarter of this year, Nograles said.
“By the end of the third quarter, we would be approaching already ‘yung (the) population protection,” he said.
The government aims to inoculate up to 70 million within the year to achieve population protection amid the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
As of July 4, around 8,839,124 of the 11,708,029 people have received the first Covid-19 vaccine shot, while the remaining 2,868, 905 individuals have already been fully vaccinated.
‘Phase-by-phase’ approach
Nograles said the government is taking a “phase-by-phase” approach to “gradually and safely” reopen the economy.
He ensured that government offices are working together to enable Filipinos to return to the “normal way of doing things” just like before Covid-19 hit the country.
He added that more sectors are expected to resume operations by the third quarter of 2021.
“We will be more confident in opening up more of the economy, getting people back to work. Dito na po natin mararamdaman yung tinatawag nating (It will enable us to feel the) transition to the new normal,” Nograles said.
The Philippine government continues to ease the quarantine protocols to revive the economy and help more Filipinos cope with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
Source: Philippines News Agency
