DOH: Philippines ranks 4th among countries with most single-day COVID-19 jabs

The Philippines ranked fourth among countries with the highest number of COVID-19 vaccinations in a single day with 2.7 million doses, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Citing the Our World in Data, the DOH said the country administered around 2.7 million doses on November 29, beating Brazil which administered 2.6 million in a single day.

China, meanwhile, took the top spot with 22 million, followed by India with 10 million, and the United States with 3.4 million.

“But if you’re going to look at this in terms of population, number one tayo kasi 110 million lang tayo… India and China na nasa one billion ang population. Kaya I hope we are able to sustain the momentum,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a statement.

(If you are going to look at it in terms of population, we are number one because we have a population of 110 million... India and China have around a billion citizens. So I hope we will be able to sustain the momentum.)

Duque urged the public to 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.

Earlier, the National Vaccination Operations Center said the government vaccinated around 8 million individuals against COVID-19 during the November 29 to December 1 vaccination days.

Meanwhile, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government achieved its target of inoculating 70% of its population with at least one dose.

Data from the National Task Force Against COVID-19 showed that a total of 55,415,753 individuals or 71.84% have received at least one dose as of December 1.

Of this, 36,869,419 have been fully vaccinated against the illness.

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