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Vaccinations done by 2033? Lacson chides slow pace of COVID-19 vaccine rollout

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Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/06/15/lacson.jpg"/><figcaption>Sen. Panfilo Lacson delivers a manifestation in the Senate plenary on May 11, 2020. <em>Henzberg Austria, Senate PRIB</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said he is hoping the Department of Health would speed up its ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program, otherwise, the government’s target to inoculate 60-70 percent of its overall population will only be finished by year 2033.<br/> <br/>Lacson based his statement on the DOH&#x27;s recent vaccination statistics update where it reported a total of 114,615 individuals as of March 10.</p><p>&quot;If we do not improve on this pace, and let’s all hope we will accelerate, we will finish vaccinating the 70 percent targeted population to achieve herd immunity in 11 years and 8 months or 2033,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>The Philippines can only have a faster inoculation program if the country can secure enough supply of vaccine and have it delivered on time, the senator said.<br/> <br/>&quot;Let’s hope na walang gaps ang deliveries para walang hinto, instead – tuloy tuloy ang pagbabakuna,&quot; he said.</p><p>Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier said the pace of the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program is &quot;not as quick&quot; as the government hoped for.</p><p>&quot;The first week, I will admit, the vaccination rate was not as quick as we wanted it, but for obvious reasons. Siyempre nag-uumpisa pa lang (we have just started),&quot; he explained.</p><p>Several health workers earlier refused to be inoculated with Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines due to fears over possible side effects.</p><p>The arrival of AstraZeneca vaccines would hopefully increase the number of Filipinos vaccinated against COVID-19, Duque said.</p><p>&quot;Kung ayaw sa Sinovac, binigyan po natin sila ng right of first refusal, at ‘yung AstraZeneca ibinigay para doon sa mga tumanggi,&quot; he said. </p><p>(Secondly, there is this option for health workers to choose their vaccines. If they do not want Sinovac, we will give the AstraZeneca doses to them.) </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/21/duque-says-phs-vaccination-rollout-rate-not-as-quick-as-we-wanted">Duque says PH&#x27;s vaccination rollout rate &#x27;not as quick as we wanted&#x27;</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1630105" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said he is hoping the Department of Health would speed up its ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program, otherwise, the government’s target to inoculate 60-70 percent of its overall population will only be finished by year 2033.</p>

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday said he is hoping the Department of Health would speed up its ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program, otherwise, the government’s target to inoculate 60-70 percent of its overall population will only be finished by year 2033.

Vaccinations done by 2033? Lacson chides slow pace of COVID-19 vaccine rollout

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Vaccinations done by 2033? Lacson chides slow pace of COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Sherrie Ann Torres,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 12, 2021 10:45 AM PHT

|

Updated Mar 12, 2021 12:16 PM PHT

Read More:

Ping Lacson

COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccine

Francisco Duque III

DOH

health

global pandemic

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