NCR target: 250,000 COVID-19 vaccinations daily during ECQ

Filipinos use their smartphones while queueing for free vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at San Andres Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines, July 21, 2021. (REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez)

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors are aiming to administer 250,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses  a day during the two-week reimposition of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) next week, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos said Saturday.

Metro Manila will be placed under the strictest quarantine classification from August 6 to August 20 after local chief executives appealed to the national government for stricter quarantine protocols amid the threat of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant

Abalos said mayors are expecting an allocation of about four million COVID-19 vaccine doses from the national government.

“Humingi kami ng four million doses na bakuna at sana maibigay ito and that will be about 250,000 vaccinations a day. That is a tall order,” Abalos said in a chance interview in Manila.

(We asked for four million doses and we hope the national government can give it to us. We aim to do 250,000 vaccinations a day. That is a tall order.)

MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos (Image from the MMDA website)

Currently, Metro Manila is averaging about 107,000 to 130,000 vaccinations daily.

Abalos said the national government will likewise produce a “pool” of doctors to administer the vaccinations should there be a case surge in Metro Manila.

Aside from ramping up vaccinations, the mayors would also be focused on distributing aid to families that will be affected by the ECQ.

“’Yung ECQ is not a walk in the park. We have to do everything right now to stop this threat,” he added.

In the meantime, Metro Manila is under under general community quarantine “subject to heightened restrictions with additional restrictions” until August 5.

gsg