Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said herd immunity from COVID-19 in NCR Plus and other high-risk areas will be achieved by October.
Galvez said the government will strategize the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines – focusing on areas experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
“We aim to achieve herd immunity in areas with a high attack rate, specifically in Metro Manila by October or November. This is also our commitment with the NITAG (National Immunization Technical Advisory Group),” he said.
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Galvez said the latest batch of 500,000 doses of Coronavac vaccines will be delivered to NCR-plus and other high-risk areas.
These high-risk areas include ‘NCR Plus’ bubble, and select areas in Regions IV-A, III, II, XI, VI, VII, and CAR.
“Ang focus natin ay doon sa mga areas na tumataas ang mga kaso kung saan prayoridad natin ang A1 to A3. Kailangan bigyan sila ng agarang proteksyon para maiwasan ang burden of death and disease,” Galvez said.
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Meanwhile, the vaccine czar said 500,000 doses of Gamaleya’s Sputnik V are scheduled to arrive in the country this month.
An initial batch of 15,000 doses will be delivered on April 25, while the remaining 485,000 doses are expected to arrive by the end of the month.
The Sputnik V doses, according to Galvez, will be deployed in the same target areas due to the vaccine’s “highly sensitive temperature and logistical requirement”. (RA)
