THE National Government is aiming to inoculate 15 million people during the three-day “National Vaccination Day,” which will be held from November 29 to December 1, 2021, National Task Force (NTF) chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday, November 9.
In his report during President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People Address that was aired on Wednesday, November 10, Galvez said they are targeting to inoculate five million individuals daily during the three-day event, which will be simultaneously held in 16 regions and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm).
He said they are seeking an executive order from President Rodrigo Duterte to declare the said days as national holidays.
Galvez likened the National Vaccination Days to Election Day where people will go to polling precincts to cast their votes. This time, though, they will go to “precincts” for vaccination.
Duterte said the national vaccination drive will be held during the said period to coincide with the November 30 commemoration of Bonifacio Day.
“With this, we want to convey the message that every Filipino who will get vaccinated... Lahat na pala, ang gustong sabihin dito sa gobyerno na ‘yung lahat nagpabakuna are heroes, lahat kayo hero,” he said.
During the National Vaccination Days, Galvez said all registered vaccination sites nationwide will be activated and will be expanded in hospitals, schools, arenas, gymnasiums and other similar facilities.
He said private sectors, including fast food chains, also offered to have their facilities be used as vaccination sites.
Galvez said they have coordinated with various government agencies, medical groups and private sectors for the mobilization of their resources and manpower to participate in the activity.
He said they will hold training for those who will serve as vaccinators.
Galvez urged the local government units (LGUs) to be more creative in coming up with strategies to ramp up vaccination operations and encourage more of their constituents to get vaccinated.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said it is also important for LGUs to educate their people on vaccination benefits.
He also urged LGUs to prepare their storage facilities in order to prevent spoilage of the life-saving vaccines.
Galvez said part of their preparation for the National Vaccination Days is the inspection and assessment of storage facilities.
Duterte earlier called out LGU officials over slow vaccination rollout in the municipal level.
So far, since the National Government started its vaccination program on March 1, a total of 29,809,085 individuals or 38.64 percent of the target population were fully vaccinated while 35,138,281 people or 45.55 of the priority group have received their first dose.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III reiterated the importance of ramping up the vaccination drive in order for the country to sustain the continuous decrease of Covid-19 cases in the country which had resulted in the easing of quarantine measures being implemented.
On November 9, the DOH reported 1,409 fresh Covid-19 cases in the country, the lowest for the month of November.
“Pangatlong beses po na nakapagtala tayo nang mababa sa 2,000: noong November 3 nasa 1,591; November 4 - 1,766; at ngayon po ay sa 1,409. Sana po ay patuloy na bumaba pa ang atin pong mga kaso at para nang sa ganoon makapagluwag pa po ang mas malaking bahagi ng ating ekonomiya,” he said.
The country currently has a total of 30,544 active Covid-19 cases.
A total of 2,806,694 Covid cases have been recorded in the country so far, with 44,567 deaths and 2,731,583 recoveries.
Duque said the country recorded a 47 percent drop on Covid-19 cases over the past week or from November 3, to 9 where 2,068 average daily cases were recorded as compared to the 3,883 average daily cases from October 27 to November 2.
He said as of November 9, only Regions 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) remained under moderate risk classification and average daily attack rate (Adar) at high risk.
“Ang buong bansa naman at ang mga natitirang rehiyon ay nasa low at minimal risk classification na may negatibong two-week growth rate (TWGR) at bumababang Adar,” said Duque.
“Ang pagbaba naman ng ating mga case trends ay indikasyon nang mahusay na pagpapatupad ng active case-finding, mabilis na pag-isolate o quarantine sa mga close contacts, at patuloy na pagpapalawak pa ng vaccination coverage lalo na sa vulnerable groups ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan,” he added.
Duque said the hospital and intensive care utilization rate nationwide is also on a downtrend. (SunStar Philippines)