Mayor Isko Moreno, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold ‘Poks’Pangan discuss the simultaneous deployment of vaccines as they become available. Photo by JERRY S. TAN
Manila vax rollout for elderly goes full blast
AFTER a long wait, the city government of Manila received its vaccine allotment and went full blast with its vaccination program for senior citizens yesterday, May 13, a holiday, opening 18 vaccination sites and extending their operating hours, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a total of 14 hours.
Moreno said he had asked Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan, Office of Senior Citizens head Marjun Isidro and even Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Dennis Viaje and City Engineer Armand Andres to lend a helping hand in case there is a spillover of elderly citizens who would queue for their first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.
The mayor also asked Lacuna to tap the help of city councilors for whatever help possible, since the vaccination sites are spread all over the six districts of Manila.
Moreno said the fast and extended vaccination hours of the first dose of Astra Zeneca for senior citizens is part of his commitment to the people of Manila that all vaccines will be immediately deployed as soon as they land in the city, notwithstanding the fact that yesterday (May 13) was declared a holiday in observance of the Eid’l Fitr which marks the end of month of Ramadan.
He expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, saying he was able to receive the city’s vaccine allotment before midnight of Tuesday.
The following day, the city government administered 210 first doses of Pfizer to nurses, doctors and all medical frontliners as dictated by rules to prioritize them under the A1 category.
The mayor explained that only 210 doses will be initially rolled out as first dose at the Sta. Ana Hospital under its director, Dr. Grace Padilla, from the 3,500 would-be recipients owing to the very delicate handling of Pfizer.
“Kagaya ng Gamaleya (Sputnik V), mahirap po ang handling ng Pfizer kaya gusto namin hospital setting… kung saan ang limang director ng limang ospital ay manonod , magbabantay, titingnan at aaralin ang aktuwal na deployment upang matuto rin sila nang sa ganoon ma-deploy natin sa anim na osptal ang Pfizer na merong kaunting karagdagang pag-iingat sa pag-manage ng bakuna dahil hangga’t maari, ayokong may masayang kahit isang bakuna,” Moreno explained.
He assured though, that those who did not make it to the cut-off may return the following day (Friday) to get their free jab.
Those who may avail are the medical and health frontliners from the six city-run hospitals, personnel of the MHD and frontlienrs from national and private hospitals located within the city of Manila.
“Me special request ako sa vaccinators, encoders at mga kasama sa deployment ng vaccines. Gawin nating espesyal kasi sayang ang oras. Hihingi lang ako ng konting sakripisyo paglingkuran natin sina lolo at lola, nanay at tatay para naman mapanatag ang buhay nila at mabakunahan sa lalong madaling panahon. Nakikisuyo ako, pagpasensiyahan nyo na ‘ko, tiyagain na natin,” Moreno said.
Also on Thursday, the city government gave the second dose for medical frontliners, senior citizens and individuals with comorbidities aged 18 to 59 who received their first dose of Astra Zeneca last March 16 and 18. The 1,120 doses were given at the Ospital ng Maynila.
