The second round of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” National Vaccination Days was launched on Wednesday, Dec. 15, amid the threat of typhoon “Odette” and the newly detected cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Top officials of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, Inter-Agency Task Force, and World Health Organization (WHO) visited a temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) turned vaccination site in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija for the ceremonial launching of the three-day massive immunization drive that will last until Dec. 17.

Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and NTF chief implementer, said the nationwide vaccination campaign simultaneously began in six regions namely the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), and Calabarzon (Region 4A).

Meanwhile, typhoon Odette forced the suspension of the massive inoculation drive in Bicol (Region 5), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), Davao (Region 11), Soccsksargen (Region 12), Caraga (Region 13), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The program in these areas was moved to Dec. 20 to 22.

During the launching program, Galvez said that they provided 25,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine from Janssen pharmaceutical to the local government unit (LGU) of Cabanatuan City after it surpassed its target vaccinations in the first wave of the Bayanihan Bakunahan last Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.

“We would like to ask for apology because in the previous months when we had limited supplies of vaccines, we concentrated its deployment to Metro Manila. That was when Metro Manila was experiencing a surge. But now, because of the perseverance of the healthcare workers, the local officials, and Mayor , the vaccination here has vastly improved,” Galvez said in Filipino.

“I would like to congratulate the city government you were able to surpass 70 percent of your target during the previous Bayanihan, Bakunahan. That is why we gave you an additional 25,000 doses of Janssen vaccine. I know for a fact that you can utilize all of the 25,000 doses in one day,” he said.

The vaccine czar also reiterated the importance of sustaining the vaccination program so that more people will be protected against the feared Omicron variant.

Incidentally, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday afternoon that it has detected the first two cases of Omicron variant – one is reportedly a returning overseas Filipino and the other is a Nigerian national.

The NTF has yet to issue a statement on this matter.

However, Galvez advised LGUs to continue their vaccination program and strictly implement the health protocols to combat all types of variant.

“Here in Cabanatuan City, you persevered despite your limitations and you’ve done a good job so far. I heard from the mayor that you will also vaccinate non-residents now so it’s good,” he said.

The vaccine czar said they expect to vaccinate around seven million individuals in the three-day immunization drive.

Galvez was accompanied by DOH Secretary and IATF chairman Francisco Duque III, Presidenti adviser for COVID-19 response Vince Dizon, Cabanatuan Mayor Vergara, WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, other members of the NTF, IATF, and local government of Cabanatuan.