The Marikina City local government unit (LGU) started vaccinating non-residents as part of the “We Vax as One” program, which aims to vaccinate residents from other areas to hasten the vaccination against COVID-19.
Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro said that since they are located on the border of Rizal and Metro Manila, there are Rizal residents working in Marikina. He emphasized that their participation in the “We Vax as One” program will greatly help a large sector of workers in the city.
1,200 residents from San Mateo, Rizal are scheduled for vaccination today (Aug. 30) in the Marikina Sports Complex.
Moreover, the LGU assured that it is closely monitoring the vaccine recipients to ensure that they will receive the required doses of the vaccines.
In relation to this, Marikina City has reached its targeted population protection based on its released data on Aug. 27 where 70% of its residents have received the vaccine. The city allotted schedules for vaccination for Rizal residents to maximize the capacity of its vaccination centers.
Meanwhile, testing czar Sec. Vince Dizon and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia attended the launching of the “We Vax as One” program in Marikina.
According to GM Garcia, the Metro Manila mayors discussed a system to ensure that there will be no booster shots given, the list of the non-residents for vaccination will be coming from the National Task Force Data Registry, then it will be scheduled by the LGU. Non-residents for vaccination must be scheduled and walk-ins will not be allowed.
Sec. Dizon said the program will greatly help the national government’s vaccination program since the vaccination facilities and capacity will be expanded to other LGUs. However, only the NCR Plus and LGUs that reached their target population protection will be allowed to participate in the “We Vax as One” program.
Report from Louisa Erispe/NGS-rir
