OVER five million individuals have been inoculated since the first day of the three-day National Vaccination drive of the government on November 29, 2021, health undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said on Thursday, December 1.

Cabotaje said a total of 2,708,018 individuals got their coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs on November 29, while 2,292,335 on November 30.

The daily vaccination accomplishments in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Bamm) and Soccsksargen also improved during the three-day national vaccination drive.

Cabotaje said Barmm administered at least 90,000 doses over the past two days as compared to their average daily vaccination of 10,000 to 12,000. Soccsksargen had over 100,000 vaccination as compared to the daily average vaccination of 50,000.

She said they are hoping that the country will achieve the 9-million jabs target of the national government that aims to boost the vaccination program until the yearend.

Among the concerns amid the massive vaccination drive is the denial of walk-in vaccinees and the early closure of vaccination sites.

Cabotaje said these concerns will be addressed during the second leg of the national vaccination drive from December 15 to 17.

“Gagawin na mas madali ang proseso increase ‘yung sa registration area, may mga complain kasi na hindi naa-accomodate, long queues. While we appreciate ang gusto ng mga LGU (local government units) na meron silang pre-registration if we can accommodate more walk-ins. Ang utos din ni Presidente sana wag magpauwi ng naka line-up sa bakunahan. No walk-ins should be sent home without being vaccinated,” said Cabotaje.

(The process will be made easier to increase those in the registration area because there were complaints that were not accommodated and long queues. We also appreciate the preference of LGUs to have pre-registration and also accommodate more walk-ins. The President also ordered that those who lined up during the vaccination should not be sent home. No walk-ins should be sent home without being vaccinated.)

“Namonitor na problema na may mga cut-off nagpalabas na ng kautusan ang DILG na dapat hindi magsasara ng maaga ang bakuna center hindi magpapauwi ng nakapila ng hindi nababakunahan, kailangan tuloy tuloy hangang may nakapila pa,” she added.

(We've monitored a problem that some are implementing cut-offs, DILG has already issued an order that the vaccination center should not close early and should not send home those who lined up. It is necessary to continue until the very last person of the queue.)

The national government eyes to fully vaccinate 54 million individuals by the end of the year and at least 77 million individuals by the first quarter of 2022. It also aims to start the inoculation of children 11 years old and below.

As of November 29, a total of 82,407,303 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered since March, of which 46,274,962 are for the first dose. A total of 35,898,392 individuals were fully vaccinated.

A total of 233,949 booster shots have already been administered.