953,624 COVID-19 vax doses given on 1st day of 2nd nat’l vaxxing drive

(FILE) People who have yet to receive their COVID-19 vaccine get their first dose at a vaccination center set up at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City during the first day of the “Bayanihan Bakunahan,” the three-day national vaccination drive. —NIñO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The government has administered 953,624 COVID-19 vaccine doses during the first day of the second national vaccination day dubbed “Bayanihan, Bakunahan.”

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje revealed the figure during Thursday’s Laging Handa briefing, noting that the number accounts for 83.7 percent of local government units (LGUs).

“While ang concentration natin ay NCR (National Capital Region), CAR, [Regions] 1, 2, 3, and 4A, may mga iba’t ibang rehiyon din tumuloy ng kanilang pagbabakuna,” she pointed out.

(While our concentration of vaccination is in NCR, CAR, Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4A, other regions pushed through with their inoculations.)

Earlier, the government announced that they will move the second national vaccination days in Bicol, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), the Visayas, and Mindanao from December 15 to 17 to December 20 to 22 to allow the national government agencies, LGUs, and provincial governments to prepare for Typhoon Odette.

However, Cabotaje noted that some local government units in the regions with postponed immunization programs have pushed through with their vaccinations.

The Cagayan Valley is the region with the highest accomplishment rate, administering shots to 37.58 percent or 48,424 of its 128,865 targets.

Meanwhile, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), Central Luzon, and Ilocos Region are the top-performing regions, injecting 187,588 doses, 168,896 doses, and 66,393 doses, respectively.

The government is targeting to administer 7 million COVID-19 vaccines during the second leg of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan”  vaccination drive.

The first “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” drive was held from November 29 to December 1, with some areas extending until December 3, wherein the government planned to inoculate nine million individuals.

/MUF