Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said setting higher targets in containing the spread of COVID-19 will prompt the government to take urgent actions.
She issued the statement amid a shift in the administration's goal of achieving "population protection" instead of "herd immunity" against the coronavirus before the end of the year, according to a Department of Health official.
Prior to her statement, Malacañang already said that the government is targeting “population protection” by Nov. 27 in Metro Manila and 4 surrounding provinces – an area government calls NCR Plus. “Herd immunity” usually refers to continuous protection, said Cabotaje, who is chairperson of the National Vaccinations Operations Center.
"Kung aasa lang tayo sa mga doktor at nurses na sobra na nga ang kanilang ginagawa sa mga ospital, matatagalan talaga ," the Vice President said. "Kailangan talagang harapin natin, bakit ba kulang ang kumpyansa sa isang brand na ito, para 'pag nagkampanya tayo against the vaccine hesitancy, tama ang kampanya natin. Mahalaga na iniintindi natin... 'Di pwedeng idaan sa propaganda na sinisiraan ng oposisyon," she said.