The country’s general population or those who do not belong in any of the vaccination priority groups that were previously approved to be first in getting jabbed, will now have an opportunity to get vaccinated as well. This is after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved the vaccination of the general population and children 12-17 years old.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. made this announcement in a press briefing today, September 28, 2021, where he also mentioned that because of a big supply of vaccines expected to be delivered in October, the President has decided that the vaccination program can now be expanded to the general population and children.
“Ito po’y inaprubahan ng Pangulo sang-ayon po sa advice ni Vaccine Czar [Secretary] Carlito Galvez, at magsisimula na rin po ang ating pagbabakuna ng ating mga kabataan,” said Secretary Roque.
On pediatric vaccination or the vaccination of children ages 12-17 years old, Secretary Roque said parents are encouraged to have their children listed first in preparation for their vaccination in October.
“Ang pinaghahandaan po natin yung masterlisting pa lang naman. Pag meron na po tayong masterlist antayin po natin ang anunsyo kung sino ang mauuna,” Sec Roque said.
The Palace official assured though that while the general population and children will be added to those who can get jabbed with a COVID-19 vaccine, those who belong to Priority Groups A1 to A3 will not lose their prioritization.
“Magkakaroon po tayo ng express lane para sa kanila. Pero ang importante lang, dahil nandyan na po ang supply, at ang naging problema naman natin dati ay kakulangan ng supply, ngayong maraming supply eh sisimulan na po natin ang bakunahan ng general population,” Roque said.
As previously reported in the Presidential Press Briefing, the country expects to receive some 27.2-million vaccine doses this month alone, including the delivery on September 29, 2021 of 391,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is part of the vaccine doses that were purchased by the national government.
Meanwhile, as of September 27 data from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard, a total of 44,361,285 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, of which 20,583,580 or 26.68 percent are fully vaccinated.
In Metro Manila, total vaccines administered is now 15,466,087, of which 7,081,010 or 72.43 percent are fully vaccinated, as of September 27, 2021.
“Malapit na po talaga ang population protection sa Metro Manila. At kapag nangyari po itong population protection, yung mababakunahan na ang otsyenta porsyento, makakapaghanap-buhay ang karamihan sa atin,” Roque remarked.
This opportunity for more economic reopening is what the business and private sectors are asking of the government, particularly in the fourth quarter of the year, said Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion. PA Concepcion said the private sector is hoping for further expansion of allowable capacities for businesses, both for the fully vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Concepcion added that the private sector remains hopeful of regaining losses in the past three quarters because of the expected higher consumer spending and possible election spending in the last quarter of the year. (OPS)
