Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacon on Friday said that the government should expedite the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the country, warning that the vaccination program may last for over 11 years if the current progress rate isn’t changed.
The senator, citing his own computations, said the Philippines can only wrap up the drive by 2033 if the daily inoculation numbers don’t spike up.
“Kung hindi mag-accelerate ‘yung pace ng vaccination, at assuming na darating lahat ‘yung supply na ine-expect for 70 million targeted population to achieve herd immunity, then we’ll have a problem because aabutin tayo ng 2033 and at the rate we’re doing,” Lacson said.
“It will take us 11 years and eight months to finish, assuming na darating ‘yung 140 plus million doses,” he explained. “Pero kung maga-accelerate and I hope the government will accelerate the vaccination rollout, then maybe we can advance yung timetable natin.”
As a response, the Health Department stressed that the Philippines’ vaccination drive has just kicked off, and expressed hope that the numbers would rise by the day.
“Hindi pa nabibigay sa lahat ng regions at tuloy-tuloy ang distribution,” said DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergerie.
She added authorities have also contacted inoculation sites and concerned regional directors to help hasten the process.
