DILG clarifies: 23 cities have population protection, not herd immunity

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año clarified on Friday that the 23 cities in the country with at least 70% vaccination coverage have achieved population protection, not herd immunity.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated on Thursday that these areas may have reached target vaccine coverage but have yet to achieve absolute protection from COVID-19 due to potential exposure from low-vaccination areas.

Año initially claimed that these cities had reached herd immunity, but clarified that herd immunity involves vaccinating the entire population of an area rather than just priority groups.