MANILA, Philippines — Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday said the country may have to implement mandatory vaccination to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. The Philippine government is targeting 70 percent of the country’s 110 million population for inoculation to achieve herd immunity. The government has already used other means to boost jab acceptance, especially in the provinces through information drives, incentives and house-to-house vaccination, Vergeire said. But it wants to “push its campaign forward” to achieve herd immunity sooner, she said. After starting the inoculation of minors age 12 to 17 the government may soon administer booster shots or third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
