INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) had agreed to adopt the “Vax as One” scheme to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Metro Manila.
This means that local governments that have almost reached their vaccination targets can now accommodate nonresidents who want to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
These local governments are Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan, and Pateros.
Under the current setup, nonresidents who are economic workers can receive their jabs in their respective work jurisdictions.
Benhur Abalos, chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and concurrent MMC chair, said the scheme would help the national government hit its target of fully vaccinating 50 percent of the population by the end of August or early September.
“Considering that each [local government] had established effective vaccination sites and highly trained workforce, further considering that some [local governments] have almost hit their targets, [Metro Manila mayors] have decided to accept more nonresidents in their vaccination operations,” Abalos said.
The MMDA chief said the vaccines would still be administered by schedule.
A valid government-issued identification card will be required from individuals who will be vaccinated outside their local governments.
But not all Metro Manila cities will be able to vaccinate nonresidents since some of them still have a long way to go to reach their targets.
Abalos said only Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan and Pateros could so far carry out the new concept.
Abalos said the MMC approved the new vaccine scheme proposed by the Technical Working Group of the Inter-Agency Task Force during their meeting on Friday night.
Abalos said that during their meeting, the Department of the Interior and Local Government also supported the idea of cost-sharing between the national government and local governments for the provision of food packs for areas on quarantine and granular lockdown.