The Philippines failed to hit the nine million vaccinee mark during its three-day national vaccination drive, where it inoculated over 7.6 million Filipinos against Covid-19.
In a Laging Handa briefing, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said 7,628,432 individuals received Covid-19 vaccine jabs during the three-day drive.
The first day of the vaccination drive, Nov. 29, saw the highest vaccination throughput, Cabotaje said. Some 2,713,731 million people were vaccinated during the first day.
The Philippines inoculated 2,466,728 individuals on Nov. 30 and 2,447,973 on Dec. 1.
“Hindi pa kumpleto iyong ating mga reports, may updating that is happening, but we are very happy with the initial report kaso this is more than two times the daily vaccination rate,” Cabotaje said.
Region 4-A, Region 3 and Region 7 had the most number of vaccinees during the three-day drive, Cabotaje said.
The Philippines has fully vaccinated 36,869,419 Filipinos as of Dec. 1.
Vaccination drive extended until Dec. 3
Following requests from local government units (LGUs), the Philippine government has extended its “Bayanihan Bakunahan” vaccination drive until Dec. 3.
The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, in an advisory, urged LGUs to take advantage of the public’s willingness to get inoculated.
“To sustain the momentum of the operations of the NVD (national vaccination days) and to take advantage of the interest of constituents towards vaccination, the LGUs are allowed to extend the operations of the Bayanihan, Bakunahan National Covid-19 Vaccination Days until Dec. 3, 2021,” the NTF said Wednesday.
More than 7.6 million Filipinos were vaccinated during the three-day drive.
The Philippines had aimed to inoculate 15 million individuals during the vaccination days but later reduced its target to nine million over logistical challenges and shortages in syringes and ancillary supplies.
The Philippines is expecting the arrival of Pfizer syringes within the week.
Officials earlier said that the country was considering another three-day national vaccination drive, from Dec. 15 to 17.
The vaccination days were held to increase the country’s vaccination throughput before Christmas. John Ezekiel J. Hirro