(PNA file photo) MANILA - The remaining 100 million coronavirus vaccine doses in the stockpile are enough for this year's vaccination operations, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said Wednesday. "We are confident we can distribute and administer these 100 million doses this year," Galvez, who is also the vaccine czar, said in a media forum. Galvez said the remaining stockpile will be used in the administration of 10 million doses to pediatric age groups, 60 million doses as booster shots, 1.8 million doses for senior citizens and even 24 million doses for fourth dose or second booster shots. "Part of our strategy is that those we have procured from last year, it can suffice to 2022," he added. The government has earlier allocated PHP45.3 billion for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for this year. "Hindi na po natin nagamit yun sa ngayong year dahil napababa po naitn ang presyo ng (W
(File photo) MANILA - The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said the country's face mask mandate would remain even with the decreasing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases. In a radio interview, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the mandate is unlikely to be lifted anytime soon especially with the election campaign season, where strict compliance with the minimum public health standards (MPHS) must be ensured to prevent any spike from happening. While the Philippines is already past the recent Omicron surge, Duque said it is better to err on the side of caution. "Hindi ako naniniwala na malapit na 'yong panahon (na mawawala na 'yong mask) kasi lalo na mayroon tayong campaign rallies lalo pa natin dapat paigtingin ang pagsunod sa MPHS (I don't think we're nearing the point where we can already remove the mask especially now with the campaign rallies where we must strengthen compliance to MPHS)," he said. "[M]aigi na 'yong lagi tay
EXPANDED RESBAKUNA KIDS. The National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 officials led by its chief Implementer and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr., visit several vaccination sites in Zamboanga City on Feb. 15-16, 2022 as part of the government's expanded Covid-19 vaccination rollout for children 5 to 11 years old. Galvez noted high vaccine acceptance among kids 5-11 age group in the city. (Photo courtesy of NTF) MANILA - There is high public acceptance on the Covid-19 pediatric vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old in Zamboanga City, National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said Thursday. "Sa ngayon talaga pong puspusan ang ating pagbabakuna at kahapon nga po galing ako ng Zamboanga at saka Basilan at ako ay biglang namangha at saka nabigla po talaga na ang taas ng tinatawag nating acceptance ng mga children vaccination doon sa Zamboanga City, even na sabi na nila na paubos na yung kanilang mga supply da
(File photo) MANILA - The government will start administrating formulated Covid-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11 years old by February 4, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said Monday night. "We are already prepared in the vaccination of 5 to 11 years old," Galvez, also the vaccine czar, reported during President Rodrigo Duterte's prerecorded Talk to the People. Galvez said the government will issue the memorandum guidance this week, with town hall meetings to be conducted from January 24 to 28, for the rollout of the pediatric vaccination under the 5-11 years old age bracket. The formulated low-dosing Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to be used for the younger population will tentatively arrive on February 2, he added. Galvez said the pediatric vaccination for this age bracket will be rolled out in two phases. A pilot run will be conducted in one hospital-based and one local government unit (LGU)-based vaccination site
National Task Force Against Covid-19 chief and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (File photo) MANILA - The government has been working non-stop to make sure the Covid-19 vaccination program will continue to improve, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., said on Saturday. Despite a slow start last year due to limited vaccine supplies globally, Galvez said the daily inoculation rate rose froma few thousand doses to millions of jabs as the shipments started to arrive in bulk during the third quarter of 2021. "First of all, the Philippine government remains committed, more than ever, to vaccinate all qualified Filipinos against Covid-19 amidst the challenges we continue to face," Galvez said in a statement, reacting to the World Bank report on the country's slow vaccination rollout. Galvez said the government's "massive and unprecedented" vaccination strategies since March last year proved effective,