MMDA confident Metro Manila can achieve population protection early
METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos expressed confidence that the National Capital Region (NCR) can achieve population protection against the COVID-19 virus early as the vaccination program progresses.
Abalos said the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) plays a key role in achieving this monumental and important goal, particularly in ensuring the steady supply of vaccines.
As of June 22, around 3.6 million of Metro Manila’s population of about 14 million have been vaccinated — 2.8 million received the first dose while 877,958 received the second dose, said Abalos, citing data based on daily reports of NCR local government units (LGUs). Metro Manila posts an average of 114,000 jabs a day at present.
“The numbers are encouraging; the pace of the vaccination is increasing. The National Government, thru NVOC and led by Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., ensures the steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Metro Manila,” Abalos said.
The MMDA Chairman has mentioned, “that targeting at least 50% of Metro Manila’s 14 million population, around 14 million jabs would be needed and so far with the 3.6 million jabs done as of June 22, we would belooking at around 10.3 million jabs remaining. Given our daily average jabs, we will be having at least 3.4 million jabs per month. Therefore, the remaining 10.3 million jabs can be attained in three (3) months or less.”
“If the jab numbers are sustained and further increase, with a steady supply of vaccines, we can have majority of Metro Manila’s population protected by end of September this year or hopefully earlier,” said Abalos. This includes the IATF priority groups such as A1, A2 and A3 and other identified sectors of our society.
Further, the MMDA Chairman enjoined all Metro Manila residents to have themselves inoculated. “Months after the launch of the mass vaccination campaign, more and more people are willing to get vaccinated,” said Abalos.
Abalos praises the unrelenting efforts of the 17 Metro Manila LGUs in ramping up their vaccination capacities.
“I thank the Metro Manila mayors for their unified efforts to boost public confidence on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. As a matter of fact, they have increased their vaccination capacities and even doubled or tripled their jabbing capacity per day with the help of the private sector. A testament of our commitment to protect the citizenry and eventually win our fight against the Covid-19,” Abalos said.
