Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the country’s Catholic bishops, called on the public to support the “National Vaccination Days against COVID-19” from November 29 to December 1.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said that Church leaders have been supporting the call of the government for a “whole-of-society approach” to curb the impact of the global pandemic.”
“Getting vaccination has been one of our strongest appeals (to the people),” said the head of Caritas Philippines.
The government announced that it is expecting to vaccinate at least 15 million Filipinos during the three-day run.
Secretary Carlito Galvez said authorities will “mobilize all stakeholders, people and logistics to facilitate the vaccination.”
“Aside from opening our facilities as vaccination areas, church volunteers and other resources were offered to the Department of Health and the local government units in full support of the program,” Father Tony Labiao, Caritas Philippines executive secretary.
“We will continue to do so until all is done with our vaccination program,” he added.
The country has already received 123 million vaccine doses through donations and procurements from abroad.
“Aside from the regular vaccination activities, which started in April this year, we are also partnering with the local government units in pediatric vaccination for minors aged 12-17 years old, as well as the administration of booster shots as part of the whole COVID-19 response,” said Father Labiao.
Bishop Bagaforo, meanwhile, said all stakeholders have been helping the government achieve population immunity against the virus.
“We need to make the most of this coming together,” said the prelate. “Let no issue, political or otherwise, ruin this beautiful fraternal solidarity,” he added.
The latest data from the national COVID-19 vaccination dashboard showed the Philippines has administered a total of 78,528,357 doses of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide.
Of this number, 43,870,322 were given as first dose, 34,55,933 as second shot and 102,102 as booster shot.
The country’s average daily vaccination rate in the last seven days stood at 823,561.
During the second quarter of next year, the government aims to increase the target number of fully vaccinated Filipinos up to 90 million under the third phase.
The completion of primary doses and booster vaccination for the rest of the Filipino population in the fourth phase will be done by the third quarter of next year. – with a report from the Philippine News Agency
