THE government has extended the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” national coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination days until Friday, December 3, 2021.

In the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 advisory no. 112 signed by NTF chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., Health Secretary Fransisco Duque and Secretary Vince Dizon on Wednesday, December 1, it said the national vaccination days have been extended following the requests of local government units (LGUs).

"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 December 3, 2021," the advisory reads.

Following the extension order, the NTF directed all regional and local vaccination operations centers to "facilitate augmentation of resources and provisions of technical support" and "ensure allocation and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and ancillaries to the LGUs."

The government aims to administer 9 million jabs during the National Vaccination Days initially declared from November 29 to December 1.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said as of 6 a.m. Thursday, a total of 7,628,432 vaccine doses were administered during the 3-day period. Majority of which were inoculated as first dose.

She said the top-performing regions during the national vaccination days were Calabarzon, Central Luzon and Central Visayas, while the top-performing provinces were Cavite, Laguna and Cebu.

A total of 55,415,53 doses were administered as first dose since March when the government rolled out its vaccination program. Over 36 million individuals have been fully vaccinated.

Cabotaje said the 9-million target will remain as is amid the extension of the national vaccination program.

She said the second leg of the National Vaccination Days scheduled from December 15 to 17 will also push through.