The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the National Capital Region (NCR) must remain a priority in the vaccine rollout.
MMDA Chairperson Benhur Abalos said on Wednesday (June 23) that the region must remain a priority in the vaccination following the appeals of several provincial governments that have experienced COVID-19 surges for additional vaccine allocations.
Abalos explained that the NCR needs more vaccines because the Delta COVID-19 variant can easily spread in the region due to its being the center of commerce and one of the major ports of entry in the country.
In relation to this, OCTA Research team fellow Prof. Ranjit Rye said on Thursday (June 24) that not only vaccination is needed in the fight against COVID-19, but also testing, tracing, and isolation.
“Ang [kailangan sa] paglaban sa surge talaga ay ang testing, tracing, and isolation. ’Yan kasi ang immediate and urgent na kailangan nating gawin. When you want to reverse a surge ‘yan ang kailangan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abalos is optimistic that 50% of Metro Manila’s population can be vaccinated within three months if the basis is the speed of the local government units in inoculating their constituents.
READ MORE: http://152.42.253.13/abalos-its-possible-for-ncr-to-achieve-population-protection-by-end-september/
(PTV News)/NGS- jlo
