9 more provinces, HUCs placed under AL 1
By Nidz Godino
“They passed our metrics on fully vaccinated and vaccination of our elderly…we have now total of 64 cities and provinces throughout the country already at Alert Level 1,” National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon said at least nine provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) added in the list of areas under Alert Level 1 due to result of the fourth wave of national vaccination drive.
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Talk to the People”, Dizon said among these provinces and cities were Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Lucena City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Ormoc City, Tacloban City, and Butuan City.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases has placed National Capital Region (NCR) and 47 other areas under Alert Level 1 from March 16 to March 31, 2022.
“We are trying to push all other provinces and cities to really achieve these levels of vaccination so that they can also deescalate to Alert Level 1 at soonest possible time…hopefully, within the month of March so that they can all help economy move forward,” Dizon stressed.
Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel shall be allowed without regard to age and comorbidities.
All establishments, persons, or activities, meanwhile, are allowed to operate, work, or be undertaken at full on-site or venue/seating capacity provided it is consistent with minimum public health standards.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said at least 1,400,889 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far which is 75% of 1.8 million target in the fourth wave of the national vaccination drive.
Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje earlier said Bayanihan, Bakunahan IV was extended in some local government units and regions.
The vaccination of senior citizens will, meanwhile, be extended until Friday, March 18, 2022.
Cabotaje said regions with lowest vaccination rates are Bangsamoro Region and some provinces in Region XII.
The government is eyeing to fully vaccinate 77 million Filipinos against COVID-19 by the end of March, and 90 million by the time President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office on June 30,2022.
Galvez said vaccination numbers are declining, noting that only five to six million COVID-19 vaccine doses will possibly be administered this March.
Galvez has reported continuous decline in vaccination rate since November 2021.
“We saw in the early days that we had supply issues, but now we see that we are starting to have demand issue because situation in the Philippines is improving, meaning the public is becoming complacent in getting vaccinated, we have seen since February our output decreased by more than 50% and this month we might only achieve five to six million doses administered” Galvez said.
Galvez said there is continuous decline of daily vaccination output due to the low turn-out in the inoculation of booster shots despite high percentage of vaccine willingness to 80%.
“We have to highly encourage our government workers and economic frontliners to get boosted… second, let us provide possible incentives for people to get booster jabs…lastly, our business sectors recommend that boosters may be required for travel and entering establishments,” he added.
He said pediatric vaccination has good turn-out with 8,766,899 fully vaccinated for 12 to 17 years old, and 1,233,017 first dose administered for five to 11 years old.
Meanwhile, Galvez said at least 1,400,889 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far which is 75% of the 1.8 million target in the fourth wave of the national vaccination drive.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje earlier said Bayanihan, Bakunahan IV was extended in some local government units and regions.
The vaccination of senior citizens will, meanwhile, be extended until Friday.
Cabotaje said regions with lowest vaccination rates are Bangsamoro Region and some provinces in Region XII.
Meanwhile, the Heath official said there may no longer be national vaccination days as government shifts its focus on specific areas.
Philippine government has also failed to meet its target of vaccinating 1.8 million more Filipinos during the fourth wave of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national vaccination drive.
Galvez said at least 1,400,889 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered which 75% of the 1.8 million target in the fourth wave of the national vaccination drive.
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