2.5M jabs administered on 1st day of COVID-19 vaccination drive

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:57 p.m.) — The government has administered 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses on the first day of the national immunization drive, the Department of Health said Tuesday. 

According to Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, a total of 2,554,023 jabs were administered Monday, lower than the government’s target of three million vaccine doses per day. 

Initially, authorities aimed to give five million doses daily, but the target for the three-day vaccination activity was adjusted due to shortage in syringes and other logistical challenges. 

Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Bicol region were the regions with the biggest outputs. 

Cabotaje, who heads the National Vaccination Operations Center, said some people who went directly to vaccination centers without appointments were not allowed to get jabbed.

“We now have a directive that allows walk-ins. No one among those who lined up should go home without getting inoculated,” she said. 

In a separate interview, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the government is so far satisfied with the turnout of the vaccination drive. 
“We are satisfied with our performance yesterday because a lot of people went to vaccination sites,” Año said in an interview on Teleradyo.

“There were areas overwhelmed [by the number of vaccinees], but in general, the turnout was good,” he added in Filipino.

The government’s goal is to fully vaccinate 54 million Filipinos by yearend. To help achieve this target, there will be another three-day vaccination activity scheduled from December 15 to 17.

As of November 29, over 35.89 million Filipinos have completed vaccination against COVID-19. Meanwhile, more than 46.27 million people have received partial protection.