A man takes a selfie at the Vaccine Express at the CPP to record his getting his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo from the Twitter account of Vice President Leni Robredo)
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 4,599 individuals got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through the Vaccine Express, a drive-through facility at the Cultural Center of the Philippines launched jointly by the Manila City Hall and the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Most of the vaccine recipients were tricycle drivers and delivery riders, according to Vice President Leni Robredo, who broke the news on her Twitter account on Wednesday.
“This was made possible by the power of collaboration,” Robredo said in her tweet, thanking Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, her staff and volunteers, and their private partners — among them UBE Express, Seaoil, Shell, Smart.
“Jab well done,” she in her tweet.
Robredo added that she stayed at the facility for some time so she could personally thank the doctors, nurses, and other volunteers there and see for herself the condition of the vaccinated individuals.
She noted that those who got vaccinated were happy, saying it was big thing for them to have “easy access” to vaccination.
Spent the entire afternoon sa ating Vaccine Express site, so I could personally thank our doctors, nurses and volunteers. Lahat pagod pero masaya at fulfilled. pic.twitter.com/9qSvx3dyua
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) June 23, 2021
Also went around those who were on queue or were being monitored. Lahat nagpapasalamat at nagsasabi na malaking bagay yung easy access ng bakuna para sa kanila. Proud sila na nabakunahan na sila. Halos lahat nagsasabi na ginagawa nila ito para sa mga pamilya nila. pic.twitter.com/bnlapIyBn3
— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) June 23, 2021
The Vaccine Express, which Robredo and Moreno opened on Tuesday, is the latest of program of the OVP to help the government’s COVID-19 response.
READ: Robredo, Moreno to keep partnership on ‘Vaccine Express’ for essential workers
In March 2020, at the onset of the pandemic in the country, the OVP provided personal protective equipment (PPEs), dormitories, and free shuttle services for healthcare workers.
READ: 2020: A year OVP kept itself busy despite lack of funds, brickbats from Malacañang
The OVP also set up learning centers in several communities and donated distance learning gadgets to help students attending online classes.
During the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and its adjacent provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna, the OVP stepped up its operations to provide PPEs.
It also launched two new programs — the Swab Cag, a mobile COVID-19 testing facility, and the Bayanihan E-Konsulta which allows possibly infected patients to consult first with health workers through telemedicine.
The goal of those projects was to ease the pressure of too many patients in already crowded hospitals.
READ: OVP’s Bayanihan e-Konsulta faces thousands of backlogs
READ: OVP launches Swab Cab for antigen testing