MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Friday urged the government to speed up its COVID-19 vaccination program, warning that it would take the country almost 12 years to reach herd immunity if nothing changes. "At the rate of about 4,000 a day, assuming that the vaccination is not accelerated and assuming we will have the vaccines for the 70-million targeted population for herd immunity, we might not achieve herd immunity until 2033 at the rate we’re doing it now," Lacson said in an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source." "It will take us 11 years and eight months to finish assuming that all 140 plus million doses will arrive," he added partially in Filipino. "But if we accelerate, and I hope the government will accelerate the vaccination rollout, then maybe we can advance our timetable." DOH: Vaccination program just getting startedIn response to Lacson's comments, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire emphasized that the country has only just begun administering the life-saving jabs.

Source: Philippine Star March 12, 2021 09:11 UTC