MANDALUYONG CITY -- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) intensified its COVID-19 response as the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,018 new active cases on Sunday, July 10.

The DOH’s COVID-19 tracker last Sunday showed that the additional cases brought active cases to 13,818, raising the country’s total cases to 3,718,467 with 3,644,009 recoveries and 60,640 deaths.

With this reported increase, the PRC continues to administer vaccinations to qualified individuals across the country. On Friday, July 8, Bakuna Centers vaccinated 139 individuals in Zamboanga City, 208 individuals in Ilocos Norte, and 73 individuals in Pasay City. Bakuna Teams also vaccinated 34 individuals in Lapasan Health Center, Carmen Health Center, and Canitoan Health Center in Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, and 23 individuals in Free Port Area, Mariveles, Bataan. The PRC Bakuna Bus drove to Dona Victoria Zarate Elementary School to vaccinate 85 individuals.

As of July 11, the PRC has administered 1,208, 429 doses, with 374,637 fully vaccinated individuals.

The PRC also started to administer COVID-19 booster shots to all qualified adolescents 12-17 years old. It encourages all qualified adolescents to avail of the first booster shot. The PRC accepts walk-ins, provided that they are accompanied by their parent or legal guardian, present their ID, their vaccination card (1st and 2nd dose), their parent’s or legal guardian’s ID, and proof of filiation.

“Ngayong pwede nang magpabakuna ang ating mga kabataang edad 12-17, mas mapapaigting pa natin ang laban kontra sa dumaraming kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa. Hinihikayat ko ang mga magulang o legal guardian na samahan ang ating mga kabataan upang makiisa sa layunin ng Red Cross na sila ay maproteksyunan at matiyak ang kanilang kaligtasan,” PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said.

In addition, the 14 PRC Molecular Laboratories with 60,000 tests capacity per day are open for COVID-19 swab and saliva RT PRC tests. (Philippine Red Cross)