With local government units (LGU) in Metro Manila now close to achieving their respective vaccination targets, the national government is now eyeing to allocate almost 40 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine among its surrounding provinces.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government will be allocating 20 million jabs for Calabarzon and 17 million doses for Central Luzon.
“Now that Metro Manila is close to achieving its 50 percent [vaccination rate] target, most of the vaccines will be sent to its nearby provinces, the ‘plus areas,’ and those where there is a surge [in cases],” Roque said in an online press briefing.
The so-called National Capital Region (NCR) plus areas include Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, and Cavite. Most of the country’s business activities are located in the said areas.
For Cavite, Roque said, over 3.8 million doses will be sent to the province next month and another 17.4 million in the last quarter of the year.
He issued the statement in response to the appeal of Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla for more Covid-19 jabs to vaccinate more of his constituents.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that 75 percent or 11.7 million of their target 14 million adult population in NCR already got their first dose.
Of the vaccinated individuals, 4.2 million were also able to get their second dose and have become “fully vaccinated” against Covid-19.
The other 7.3 million are expected to get their second dose in the coming weeks.