A health official on Wednesday said the government still needs to fully vaccinate 12 million individuals against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to reach the yearend goal for its inoculation drive.

“Our target is to reach 54 million fully vaccinated individuals. We have 42 million fully vaccinated so far, so we still have to fully vaccinate 12 million [people],” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during a televised public briefing.

The second round of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” vaccination drive started on Wednesday and would end on Friday.

However, the government postponed the vaccination drive in the Visayas, Mindanao, Mimaropa, and the Bicol Region to December 20 until 22 due to Typhoon Odette.

“The primary vaccination remains very important because that is the first battleground and it is our first layer of protection,” Cabotaje said.

She added that the government eyes to inoculate seven million individuals during the second round of national vaccination.

Meantime, the government’s target in the National Capital Region is to administer as many booster shots as possible.

The guidelines on the administration of booster shots state that it may be given six months after the second dose of the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines and three months after the single-dose Janssen.

Cabotaje told the public that the government is confident to reach its target to vaccinate seven million individuals.

“We have enough vaccines and we will have enough for our booster shots. For shelf life, be rest assured all our vaccines are safe, effective, and monitored by the Food and Drug Administration,” she said.

The government aims to fully vaccinate 77 million individuals by March 2022. (PNA)