Despite the low supply of the COVID-19 vaccine, some local governments in Metro Manila are still preparing to vaccinate those covered by the A4 and A5 priority groups or the economic frontliners and the poor.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez had earlier said that vaccination could begin in the A4 group next month or when the vaccine supply is “steady.”
In Valenzuela, the local government unit (LGU) is listing those working in factories in the city so people would not flock to vaccination sites.
“Remember, let’s say a company has about 1,000 employees. Kapag dinala niya sa site ‘yon, baka ang tagal na ng inaantay ng mga iba nating individual registrants kasi kailangan pang tapusin yung 1,000 ng isang company,” said Gatchalian.
“We’re going to open industry-specific vaccination sites. We have 2 – one per congressional district,” he added.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is awaiting the final guidelines from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases while online registration for vaccination continues.
“Mamaya, hindi pala compliant doon sa guidelines na ibababa sa atin. So let’s just be little bit patient. Even ‘yong categorization, baka magbago pa. So antayin na lang po natin,” said Sotto.
Some LGUs in Metro Manila preparing for vaccination of A4, A5 groups
It is estimated that more than 30 million Filipinos are likely to be vaccinated once A4 and A5 are approved.
But some local officials in Metro Manila have previously complained about the lack of vaccine supply.
In Marikina, the shortage of vaccines is already felt because their supply will only last until Monday.
The number of people vaccinated in the city has increased every day.
In San Juan, Mayor Francis Zamora said that the remaining 12,953 vaccines are available for first doses and that the Department of Health (DOH) will send additional supplies when they run out.
The private sector will urge the DOH to use the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccines in June.
According to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, an estimated 1.2 million doses of AstraZeneca are coming.
So if the DOH agrees, 1.2 million workers will be vaccinated immediately
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