Metro Manila LGUs eye mass COVID-19 vaccination in June

(FILE) Public school teachers receive sinovac jab during CoVid19 vaccination effort of the City Government of Manila on Tuesday, April 13, at Palacio de Maynila, Roxas Boulevard.-INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units in Metro Manila are looking to start mass COVID-19 vaccinations by June once the bulk of the vaccine doses arrives, Metro Manila Council (MMC) chairman and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said Friday.

“Sa pagpupulong namin, itong dadating na June na dadating ‘yung supply natin, ito po ang target natin, ang buong National Capital Region ay magkakaroon ng mass inoculation,” he said in a radio interview over ABS CBN’s TeleRadyo.

(In our meeting, when the supply of vaccines starts coming in June, we aim that the whole of NCR to have a mass inoculation.)

The MMC is composed of all the mayors of Metro Manila

In Parañaque City, the local government aims to vaccinate 5,400 individuals a day starting June to reach the target of 250,000 inoculated individuals in a month and 900,000 individuals vaccinated until the end of the year.

“Kasama na ‘yung second dose doon para makuha yung 70% ng population para sa herd immunity,” Olivarez said.

(The administration of the second dose is already included there so we can achieve vaccinating 70% of population to achieve herd immunity.)

At present, vaccination in Parañaque is still ongoing but the supply is scant.

So far, 98% of the 8,000 healthcare workers in Parañaque have been vaccinated against COVID-19, Olivarez said.

Local chief executives vaccinated

Olivarez also revealed that most of the local chief executives in Metro Manila, himself included, have already received a vaccine dose against COVID-19.

He said he has already received a CoronaVac vaccine, the vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, and is waiting to be given his second dose.

The vaccination of medical professionals and local officials has led to the rise in vaccine confidence in Metro Manila, Olivarez said.

“Gumanda ‘yung ating acceptance ng ating constituents, yung kanilang kumpiyansa dito sa vaccines gumanda ‘yan. Dito sa Parañaque ang laki ng tinaas ng gustong magpa-vaccine para magkaroon ng herd immunity,” he said.

At present, the national government is inoculating healthcare workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

The Philippines is aiming to vaccinate the general public by August once there is a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said.

So far, the Philippines has administered 1.8 million vaccine doses.

/MUF