MANILA -- The government remains on track in achieving its target of fully vaccinating 54 million Filipinos despite the onslaught of Typhoon Odette.

This, according to National Task Force Against COVID-19 Director Francel Margaret Taborlupa in an interview following the arrival of 500,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccines donated by the Argentinian government.

“We’re still on track and trying to reach our target of vaccinating 54 million Filipinos despite the setbacks brought about by the Typhoon Odette,” Taborlupa said.

The NTF official said the Armed Forces of the Philippines is helping local government units in typhoon-stricken areas to safely store the COVID-19 vaccines in their inventories by providing them with generator sets.

“We are doing all our best to continue with the national government’s vaccination program,” she added.

On the government’s strategy to hit its target for this year, Taborlupa said the country’s regular vaccination program will continue.

“Tuloy-tuloy naman po ang programa ng Philippine government in terms of the vaccination campaign. So we’re trying to forge on with the vaccination program. We’re going to channel the vaccines in different areas,” Taborlupa explained.

“Some of these vaccines that were given can be used as second dose or as booster shots as the case may be. Gagamitin natin siya sa iba’t ibang paraan,” she added.

Taborlupa also thanked the Argentinian government for its vaccine donation.

“It’s been also a great pleasure to embark on this project with the Philippines,” Argentina’s Embassy to the Philippines chargé d'affaires Mauricio Muñoz.

With the latest vaccine donation from Argentina, the Philippines has received over 192 million COVID-19 doses from various manufacturers since February. (National Task Force Against COVID-19)