The Philippines is expected to attain herd immunity in Metro Manila and eight economic hubs by Christmas if the highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 will not spread locally, according to the OCTA Research Group.
The projection is a month later compared to the Health Department’s projection that NCR Plus 8 will achieve herd immunity by November 2021.
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In an interview with ABS-CBN News, molecular biologist and OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, said the Philippines has yet to report community transmission of the Delta variant.
“Given the numbers, our hope that we will reach herd immunity in NCR Plus 8 by Christmas is reasonable. This does not take into effect the Delta variant,” Austriaco explained.
The Philippines logged 17 cases, including one death, of the highly infectious variant that first emerged from India.
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According to the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF), as of June 22, the Philippines has so far administered 8.9 million doses of COVID-19 jabs.
The Philippines has fully vaccinated 2,246,897 individuals or 3.87 percent of its target 58 million. (RA)
