Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said the city could achieve herd immunity by September as it continued to administer vaccines to residents.
"We broke again our record of vaccines deployed and 95% of that is the first dose," he told CNN Philippines.
Data from the Manila Health Department showed that 15,763 persons were jabbed with COVID-19 vaccines approved for use by the national government.
Of that number, 14,364 availed Sinovac jabs, and 23 used Pfizer. Some 1,363 individuals have received their second dose.
"The point is ang mga [local government unit] gamitin lang nang husto ng national government, tingin ko ma-achieve natin ang ating goal by September na magkaroon ng herd immunity, ma-reach ang 70% vaccinated," the mayor said.
The national government revised its target population early May as it struggled to procure vaccines. It was lowered to 50 million from 70 million people vaccinated by Christmas.
Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez said Tuesday herd immunity for the entire country was possible by November. To achieve that goal, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the expansion of the inoculation program to cover the A4 and A5 categories.
Economic frontliners in essential services make up category A4, while A5 consists of indigent populations. Government officials have been reclassified to A1.5 and can receive doses.
Manila City on Tuesday began inoculating education frontline workers after the approval.
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The World Health Organization earlier this year said herd immunity by 2021 was unlikely as the world sees more contagious virus variants and a spike in cases even as countries ramp up vaccination drives.
Uneven vaccine distribution globally also hinders herd immunity against a respiratory disease that has infected some 90 million people worldwide, the WHO said.
MORE ON HERD IMMUNITY:
WHO Warns COVID-19 Herd Immunity Unlikely this Year
When Will Philippines Reach Herd Immunity from COVID?
That Herd Immunity Strategy vs COVID-19? Unethical Says WHO
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