MANILA, Philippines — Ahead of the arrival of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines in the country, the Quezon City government announced Sunday its initial list of inoculation sites for its constituents.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the sites were chosen as these are easily accessible to the city’s residents.
The chosen vaccination sites are as follows:
Project 6 Tennis Court in District 1
Batasan Hills National High School and NGC Covered Court in District 2
Aguinaldo Elementary School in District 3
Dona Josefa Jara Martinez High School and Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School in District 4
Kaligayahan Activity Center and Fairview Covered Court in District 5
Emilio Jacinto Elementary School and Culiat High School in District 6
Belmonte said the city government is targeting to establish 24 sites, in addition to the three city-run hospitals–QC General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital, and the Novaliches District Hospital.
“Nagsimula na tayong magtalaga ng vaccination sites para handa na tayo oras na dumating ang bakuna. We have to plan ahead to assure our people that we are doing everything to make these vaccines available as soon as possible,” Belmonte said in a statement.
(We started designating our vaccination sites so we are ready once the vaccine arrives.)
Dr. Esperanza Arias, head of the Quezon City Health Department, said the city has already identified other vaccination sites but they are still being evaluated to comply with Department of Health (DOH) standards.
“The vaccination site must have a unidirectional workflow or one entry and one exit, comfort rooms, and ample space for free movement of staff and observance of minimum health standards,” Arias said.
Arias added that a standby generator set, an ambulance, and the presence of Barangay Health Emergency Response Team (BHERT) personnel are also required, among others.
”For every site, the QC government will designate 22 employees composed of physicians, marshals, vaccinators, counselors, and admin staff,” Arias said.
The city government earlier entered into a tripartite agreement with the AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines and the national government for the delivery of 1.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccines are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2021.