Following the arrival of donated vaccines developed by China’s Sinovac, the local government of Manila on Tuesday began the official rollout of its COVID-19 vaccination program.
The vaccination rollout of the city has been set to begin in Sta. Ana Hospital, with its medical personnel receiving the first shot, including physician and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan. The latter was the first city official to get inoculated.
Manila City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan was also administered with the vaccine. The city aims to vaccinate a total of 200 personnel against the deadly virus in the hospital.
Around 3,000 doses of CoronaVac were allocated to the Manila government with an expected 1,500 medical frontline recipients from the six big hospitals in the city.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is hoping the first vaccination rollout to be completed within a week, citing the success of Monday’s initial rollout.
“Because of what transpired yesterday, maraming na-inspire na doctor at nurses. Umakyat ng 1,900 ang aming nagparehistro (many doctors and nurses were inspired. The registration for the vaccination increased to 1,900),” Moreno said.
Meanwhile, the city mayor asked Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to allow him to get vaccinated, saying that it is his commitment to his constituents.
He said he respects the priority list of the government and will wait for any leftover vaccine. – Report from Bea Bernardo
