STA. ROSA, LAGUNA (2 December 2021) — The Philippines clinched the fourth spot in the global rankings of nations with the highest daily jab rate after the country administered 2,713,731 vaccine doses on November 29.

The list was topped by China with 22 million doses, followed by India with 10 million doses, and the United States with 3.4 million jabs based on the Our World in Data.

“But if you’re going to look at this in terms of population, number one tayo kasi 110 million lang tayo [compared to] India and China na nasa one billion ang population. Kaya I hope we are able to sustain the momentum,” said IATF Chair and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during the extended Bayanihan Bakunahan vaccination drive on Thursday.

Bayanihan spirit

“Let us nurture the spirit of solidarity and bayanihan. This is a strength. This is a value that we all need to cherish because it is what will inspire us. It is what will strengthen and energize all of us to finally win the war against COVID-19,” Duque said.

The national government’s pandemic task force attributed this feat to the three-day National Vaccination Days, which allowed the country to more than triple its usual daily vaccination output.

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) recorded an initial of 7,628,432 doses administered throughout the country during the three-day National Vaccination Days.

Of this number, 2,713,731 doses were administered on November 29, 2,466,728 on November 30, and 2,447,973 on December 1.

“Kung dati ay libo-libo lang ang ating nababakunahan sa isang araw, ngayon ay nagawa na natin itong paabutin ng halos tatlong milyon kada araw. Ito ay dahil sa ating pagbabayanihan at pagkakaisa,” said National Task Force against COVID 19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. on Thursday during a vaccination event here.

Galvez’ views were echoed by Presidential Adviser on COVID 19 Response and Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon.

“Ngayon, napatunayan ng buong bansa na magagawa natin three times halos ng pinakamataas nating output noong mga nakaraang linggo at mga araw. Kaya ibig sabihin noon, kung magsama-sama tayo, kayang-kaya natin,” said Dizon.

The national government announced that local government units may continue the Bayanihan Bakunahan drive until December 3 in order to sustain the momentum of their scaled up vaccination rate, as well as take advantage of the large number of residents lining up in vaccination centers to get the COVID-19 jab.

55M Filipinos with at least one dose

Following the success of the three-day National Vaccination Days, the Philippines has achieved its target of inoculating 70% of its target population with at least one dose by the end of November.

As of December 1, a total 55,415,753 individuals have already been vaccinated with at least one dose or 71.84% of the country’s target population.

This figure already includes the 36,869,419 individuals who are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Our new milestone is a testament of the strength and efficiency of our national vaccination program,” Galvez said.

“More than 55.4 million na ngayon ang may at least one dose. Ibig sabihin nito, talagang maaabot natin ang target na 54 million fully vaccinated individuals bago matapos ang taon, lalo’t patuloy pa rin ang malawakan nating pagbabakuna,” he added.

Among the regions in the country, Metro Manila recorded the highest vaccination coverage, having administered at least one dose to 112.16% of its target population.

Six other regions have vaccinated with at least one dose more than 70% of their target population. These include the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON and Northern Mindanao.

“We have to give huge credit to our bayanihan spirit in achieving these record-high numbers,” Galvez said.

“In the past 3 days, we have administered more than double our usual vaccination output prior to our National Vaccination Days. This alone is a major achievement and a testament of success of our major rollout,” he added.

In terms of total doses administered over the past three days, CALABARZON is the top performing region with 1,091,427 doses administered.

This figure translates to a daily jab average of over 360,000 doses which is almost triple than the region’s usual daily output prior to the conduct of the National Vaccination Days.

Extended Bayanihan, Bakunahan

Due to the clamor of many LGUs, the government has allowed LGUs to extend the Bayanihan, Bakunahan vaccination drive until Friday, December 3.

Based on Advisory No. 112 released by the NTF, the extension is meant to sustain the momentum of the massive vaccination rollout, as a large number of people are still lining up in vaccination sites nationwide.

Regional Vaccination Operation Centers are also directed to provide support to LGUs — vaccine supplies, technical assistance and additional resources — who will decide to extend their Bayanihan, Bakunahan rollout.

Galvez said extending the implementation of National Vaccination Days is voluntary among LGUs, as this will depend on their respective targets and capacity.

“Talagang napakaganda ng resulta ng ating three-day massive rollout, kaya nag-request ang maraming LGU, lalo na sa Region 7, na i-extend pa para maabot nila ‘yung mga target nila,” he explained.

“Magandang paraan din ito para mas ma-address ‘yung challenges on the ground at para mapataas pa ang vaccination coverage natin,” Galvez added.

Some of the challenges encountered by LGUs were the early closure of vaccination sites, while some did not accommodate walk-ins.

Based on the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, task force officials once again reminded LGUs and all vaccination sites to accommodate everyone who lined up and to not let anyone go home without getting vaccinated.

The second leg of the National Vaccination Days, which aims to further ramp up the first and second dose coverage of Filipinos will be held from December 15 to 17. ###