THE ‘no walk-in policy’ implemented in the city of Manila during yesterday’s mass vaccination produced a dismal turnout, proving that such a system is ineffective.

Mayor Isko Moreno said that based on data that came in and reported by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna who is in charge of the city’s vaccination program, only less than a thousand arrived out of the 28,000 texted as of 12 noon.

Moreno said the number of persons who turned up for vaccination in all of the designated vaccination sites was very low compared to when walk-ins were allowed.

The super low only turnouts in the four shopping malls, according to Lacuna and as of 12 noon were listed as follows:

Lucky Chinatown Mall — 176 vaccines administered out of 2,500 doses; Robinsons Place Manila — 219 vaccines administered out of 2,500 doses; SM City Manila — 289 vaccines administered out of 2,500 doses; SM San Lazaro — 340 vaccines administered out of 2,500 doses.

Moreno said the ‘no walk-in policy’ was done yesterday in response to some requests for the city to revert to the implementation of the scheduled or ‘by appointment only’ vaccination.

It will be recalled that when the mass inoculation began in March, the system employed was such that only those who have pre-registered and have been texted were entertained.

Moreno said that of the 1,000 texted, only 200 came.

This prompted him and Lacuna to come up with the decision to entertain those who are qualified according to the prescribed category and who want to get jabbed, even if they have not been scheduled or sans any text message from the city.

In doing so, Moreno said the local government cannot wait for the availability of those scheduled even if their reasons for not appearing were legitimate, saying this in effect will deprive those who are eager and willing to get vaccinated but have not been scheduled yet.

Yesterday’s very low turnout, the mayor said, is one clear proof that the ‘no walk in policy’ is not that effective.

To date and with walk-ins being allowed, the city had been registering over 28,000 jabbed individuals per vaccination day.

Normally, the number of doses alloted is even short since those who want to get jabbed line up as early as 2 a.m.