The head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urges the mayors of Metro Manila, as well as some personalities such as athletes, to get vaccinated first, to reassure the public.
“I dont want to force people but I’m also floating this idea to the IATF. Baka puwede lahat na, show of force… Siguro mga mayors, pati mga idols natin sa athletes,” said MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos.
The MMDA chief mentioned this when San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora wrote to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.
Zamora allegedly wants to be allowed to be vaccinated along with the frontliners in the coming days, now that the COVID-19 vaccine is coming.
This is to increase public confidence in the vaccine.
“May we therefore seek your approval so that we may be able to achieve a COVID-19-free San Juan through the vaccination process reinforced by this humble initiative,” according to Zamora in the letter.
But this Wednesday, the number of people who want to get vaccinated in the city is improving, after an additional 900 individuals registered to get vaccinated.
In the micro-plan of San Juan City, there will be 4 vaccination sites to target about 500 individuals per day.
MMDA chair urges NCR mayors to lead in getting vaccinated
But what is clear now, according to testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon, is that health care workers will be prioritized in the upcoming Pfizer vaccine.
“We all want to inspire confidence. However for the 117,000 vaccines, the decision of the IATF based on the recommendation of the experts is that will be primarily for health care workers,” said Dizon.
In fact, Dizon said, there are still 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine that will come this February because it can only target 58,600 health workers.
Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is ready to assist in the transfer of coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) vaccines to Metro Manila, according to their chief Police Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.
“Hopefully the volume of the vaccines will be arriving any time. Ang atin namang kapulisan sa buong NCRPO ay nag-simulation exercise na noong nakaraang araw. This is to safeguard the safety of our vaccines para properly na mai-deliver ‘yan sa hospitals o vaccination centers na dapat puntahan,” Danao told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday.