An estimated 2.4 million individuals were vaccinated against the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on the first day of the national vaccination drive on Monday, Nov. 30, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said.
But Año emphasized that the figure is not yet final as the official data may be announced later on Nov. 30.
“Doon sa ating VORS or vaccination operation reporting system, kaninang (Nov. 30) alas singko, umaabot sa 2.4 million (got the COVID-19 jab) (In our VORS or vaccination operation reporting system at 5 a.m. earlier, the number reached 2.4 million),’’ Año noted in an ABS-CBN report.
In a separate interview, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said that the National Vaccines Operation Center (NVOC) will issue the report concerning the first day of the national vaccination drive.
“Maganda ang bakunahan. Si Usec (Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary) Myrna Cabotaje (The vaccination went smoothly). Usec Myrna Cabotaje will announce the accomplishment (of the vaccination drive) mamaya sa Laging Handa (news briefing) (later in the Laging Handa),’’ Malaya said.
From the previous five million jabs a day, authorities have lowered the vaccination target to three million individuals daily during the three-day vaccination drive from Nov. 29 to Dec 1 with another one slated from Dec. 15 to 17.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has yet to announce the inoculation target of individuals in the second phase of the national vaccination schedule.
The target for National COVID-19 Vaccination Days was adjusted to nine million due to the syringe shortage.
Even if the unofficial number of 2.4 million vaccinated individuals is short of the target, Año said he is satisfied so far with the turnout at the nationwide vaccine drive.
“We are satisfied doon sa performance natin kahapon (Nov. 29) in our performance yesterday because nakita natin ang daming dumagsa (in the vaccination sites), marami talagang nagpabakuna (we observed that the people trooped to the vaccination sites, many got vaccinated). May mga lugar talaga na na-ooverwhelm (There were placed that were overwhelmed, but in general naman, maganda talaga ang turnout (but generally the turnout was satisfactory),’’ he added added.
Año added having inspected the various vaccination sites particularly in the Region 4-a area where the operation went smoothly devoid of ‘spreader event’’ with the local government units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other agencies ensuring order at the inoculation areas. (Chito A. Chavez)