MANILA, Philippines — The government has administered 3.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses during the ongoing second leg of the national vaccination program dubbed “Bayanihan, Bakunahan.”
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People that aired late Tuesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported that 3,936,486 COVID-19 vaccine doses were injected from December 15 to December 21.
The 3.9 million data is higher than the 3.7 million earlier announced by Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje on Tuesday noon.
The government’s Bayanihan, Bakunahan II started on November 15. However, some areas only started on Monday while others are yet to kick off the vaccination activities as they are reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Odette.
Duque expressed gratitude to individuals who participated in the second leg of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan.
“Lubos natin pinasasalamatan ang lahat ng atin pong mga kababayan na nagpabakuna, ang atin pong mga volunteers, mga vaccinators, ang mga local government units na at mga iba pang health workers na patuloy na nakikiisa sa atin pong malawakang bakunahan na ito,” he said.
(We are thanking our fellow Filipinos who got vaccinated, our volunteers, vaccinators, local government units, and other health workers who work with us in this vaccination program.)
“Ang patuloy na malaking pagtaas ng ating vaccine coverage sa pamamagitan ng ating national vaccination days ay patunay ng ating tagumpay sa ating layunin na makamit ang ating 77-million target coverage,” added Duque.
(The continuous increase in our vaccine coverage through the national vaccination days is a testament of our victory in our goal of achieving our 77-million target coverage.)
The government is targeting to give seven million vaccine doses during the second Bayanihan, Bakunahan and to fully immunize 54 million individuals by year end.
To date, some 44.2 million individuals are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the country.