The National Capital Region (NCR) is on track to fully vaccinate about 72.56 percent of its eligible population against Covid-19 by October this year, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said Wednesday.

In a virtual presser, Abalos said the figure is based on NCR’s eligible population of 9,800,000—70 percent of NCR’s current 14 million population.

To date, he said a total of 12,509,552 Covid-19 jabs have been administered in the region, with 8,009,042 getting their dose and 4,500,5100 getting their two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Vaccine bubble

Abalos said the Metro Manila Council (MMC) is eyeing “vaccine bubbles” or allowing fully vaccinated individuals to access facilities and services deemed unsafe for the unvaccinated once an agreed-on vaccination target is reached.

“Kasi mahirap yung wala ka pa sa target na yun and then you’ll be setting certain policies (Because it will be hard if we still don’t have a target but we’ll be setting certain policies),” he said.

He also noted the importance of avoiding discrimination against the unvaccinated while enforcing the policies.

“Sana hindi maging discriminatory in a sense na bawal ka pumasok kung hindi ka bakunado. But instead, para magkaroon sana ng positive reinforcement (Hopefully it won’t be discriminatory like you’re not allowed to enter if you’re unvaccinated. But instead, there should be positive reinforcement),” Abalos said.

An example, he said, would be allowing the vaccinated to engage in certain activities in crowded and enclosed spaces that are currently prohibited by health and safety policies.

“Being vaccinated could instead be an incentive na pwede kang pumasok. Yun, medyo tinitignan natin yun at pinag-aaralan para lang makatulong na rin sa ekonomiya (that you’re allowed to enter. That, we’re looking at and studying to help the economy),” Abalos said. (PNA)