The National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) on Monday urged those unvaccinated to get their Covid-19 jabs as the country received a total of 1,497,200 doses of government-procured Moderna vaccine.

“Tayo po ay muling nanawagan sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na po ngayon na meron threat ng Omicron variant, na magpabakuna na kayo. Meron na po tayong steady supply ng vaccine (We would like to appeal again to our countrymen to get vaccinated, especially now that there is looming threat of Omicron variant. We have now steady supply of vaccine),” Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, head of the NTF strategic communications sub-task group on current operations, said in a media interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Parañaque City.

Mayor said the arrival of new shipment of Moderna vaccines brought the country’s total Covid-19 vaccines to over 147 million.

He said more than 38 million Filipinos are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Moderna is one of the two vaccine brands that the Philippines is using to inoculate minors as well as to provide booster shots for healthcare workers.

He thanked the US government for facilitating the purchase of Moderna vaccines.

Nina Lewis of US Embassy said the US has been the Philippines’ partner in public health for a very long time.

Later Monday night, the Philippines is set to receive 1,085,760 doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

Mayor also invited the unvaccinated Filipinos to participate in the second national vaccination drive set on Dec. 15-17.

The government earlier announced that the second “Bayanihan Bakunahan” will focus on administering second doses and booster shots. (PNA)