Manila City Press Release
The Manila City government continued inoculating hundreds of healthcare workers on Thursday, March 18 while assuring the general public that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Simultaneous vaccination drives were held at the Sta. Ana Hospital and Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center this morning, with hundreds of healthcare workers lining up to get inoculated.
So far, Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said about 4,000 medical frontline workers have already received their first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Pangan also urged the healthcare workers who have not yet been inoculated to have themselves vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus.
“Hopefully we’re encouraging everybody else sa ating anim na ospital at Manila Health Department na ito na yung panahon na magpabakuna na sila, marami tayong mga kasamahan kasi na tinamaan ng COVID na karamihan sa kanila, about 90% ay hindi pa bakunado,” Dr. Pangan said.
“Huwag na nating hintayin pa, maunahan sila na matamaan ng COVID. Ito na yung pagkakataon, grab the opportunity, hindi natin alam kailan darating yung susunod na bakuna and by that time hindi na sila ang priority,” he added.
About 885 healthcare workers are expected to be vaccinated with Sinovac, while about 528 medical frontliners are expected to receive their first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
As of Tuesday, March 16, 3,947 healthcare workers under the city government were already vaccinated. Dr. Pangan said the city health department is aiming to vaccinate 5,000 frontliners.
“Libre ito, inopen rin ito ni Mayor Isko sa ating private practitioners at sa private clinics kasi ang mga private clinics na ito ay humaharap din sa mga pasyente,” Dr. Pangan said.
Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla likewise echoed the appeal of Dr. Pangan, assuring healthcare workers who haven’t been inoculated that vaccines are safe.
“With the current increasing trend of COVID-19 cases, we need to protect our healthcare workers through vaccination. It is the only solution. Let’s care for those who care,” Dr. Padilla said.
Both city health officials urged the public to register via www.manilacovid19vaccine.com in order to reserve their slots once vaccines are made available for the general public.
As of writing, a total of 103,243 have already expressed their intent to be vaccinated in the nation’s capital.
