NTF exec hopes giving Covid boosters won’t affect vax supply

MANILA – As booster shot for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines is already approved in the United States, National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) deputy chief implementer Vivencio Dizon expressed apprehension that it might impact the global vaccine supply.

In a Palace briefing Thursday, Dizon said it is still uncertain that the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines in the country will be affected by the decision of the US to start inoculation for booster shots next month.

“As what the WHO (World Health Organization) said, the rich countries should also think of those countries like the Philippines and other countries that have not yet inoculated even their first shot,” he said in Filipino.

The country now has 41 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, and the jab administration is expected to reach 30 million on Friday, Dizon said.

He added the remaining doses are also reserved for the second shot of those that already got their first dose of Covid-19 jabs.

Meanwhile, the NTF official said the government has accelerated the vaccine administration amid the threats of the transmissible Delta variant.

In the first 20 days of August alone, Dizon said vaccine administration will reach 10 million shots.

He added it is thus possible that the country could reach 50 million jabs by the end of the month as daily average vaccination hits 500,000 jabs. (PNA)

Agencies