Several cities in the Philippine capital region have halted their first-dose vaccination programs as supply from the national government runs out.

Makati City, home to the nation's main financial district, said the scheduled inoculation of frontline workers receiving the Covid-19 vaccine for the first time won't push through on Tuesday. It also shut several vaccination sites in malls and schools, the city government said on Facebook.

Parañaque, Caloocan and Valenzuela cities have also stopped first-dose vaccinations as they await for additional supplies, while Malabon and Muntinlupa announced they will no longer entertain walk-ins.

Metro Manila and adjacent provinces account for about two-thirds of the Southeast Asian nation's economic output. With over a quarter of the nation's population, vaccination in the capital region is key to boosting domestic demand and reviving the economy after last year's record slump.

The Philippines will receive about a million AstraZeneca Plc doses from Japan and 170,000 Sputnik V vaccines it ordered from Russia this week, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Monday. About 2.87 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, less than 3 percent of its population.

12M vaccinated–Duque

IN Pampanga, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque led other government officials at the Luenthai garments factory here on Tuesday in the ceremonial vaccination of economic frontliners (A4) in Region 3 against Covid-19.

Joining Duque were Roque, Secretary Vince Dizon, Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda, Mabalacat City Mayor Cris Garbo, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) Chairman Atty. Edgardo Pamintuan, CDC President and CEO Manuel Gaerlan and Luenthai President Frank Sauceda.

Duque announced that as of Tuesday, 12 million Filipinos have already been vaccinated. He said he is optimistic that the Philippines will achieve herd immunity before Christmas Day.

This was also the observation of Dizon who said the government is inoculating 1 million every four days. He said we are assured of enough vaccine supply, especially now that the US and European countries have been fully vaccinated or just to finish the vaccination of their populations.

Duque also congratulated Gov. Pineda for achieving a "low risk classification for Pampanga" in the percentage of people who tested positive for Covid-19, which has dropped to "[negative] -33.15 percent or equivalent to less than zero," and the listing of Pampanga in the "low-risk" classification for infection. "The daily attack rate or risk of spread for Pampanga is 2.61 cases per 100,000 population also considered low," the health chief said.

Bloomberg News with Ashley Manabat

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