FILE Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso inspects the preparations being done by the city government ahead of the booster shot vaccination for delivery riders set on Thursday, January 6.
MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday launched the latest booster vaccination drive-thru at the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila, this time for drivers of public utility vehicles, including jeepney, taxi, tricycle, pedicab and even delivery vans.
“Good news sa mga transport group of public utility vehicles, starting Monday (Jan. 17) meron na tayong drive-thru booster vaccination,” Moreno announced in his Facebook Live on Saturday evening.
“Sino-sino po ‘yan? Jeepney driver, tricycle driver, sidecar boy, delivery van, pedicab driver, taxi driver. Dalhin nyo pamilya ninyo, mag drive-thru kayo, injection ng booster para proteksyon. Tapos uwi, na byahe na uli, trabaho na uli para hindi masayang ang araw ninyo ng hanap-buhay,” Moreno said.
Moreno together with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna visited the Bagong Ospital Maynila on Monday to check on the first day of vaccination for drivers of PUVs and delivery vans.
The Manila Health Department proposed the additional drive thru vaccination at the Ospital ng Maynila to ease the booster drive thru vaccination site in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, which is now operating on a 24-hour basis.
Moreno said the drive-thru booster vaccination at the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila complex will be from 8 am to 5 pm. “We are targeting to provide booster shots to at least 1,000 individuals who will go to the Ospital ng Maynila starting Monday,” he said.
Last Thursday, the presidential aspirant launched a four-wheel drive-thru Booster Shot Caravan in front of the Quirino Grandstand as part of his aggressive campaign to inoculate as many people as possible in the soonest possible time.
According to Moreno, mass vaccinations could prevent possible hospitalization and even death to those who remain unvaccinated amid the rise in COVID-19 infections, believed due to the Omicron variant.
Still ongoing at the Kartilya ng Katipunan near the Manila City Hall is the booster drive-thru caravan for two-wheel vehicles, including bicycles and delivery riders and couriers.
Continuing vaccination are also being done daily at various Manila health centers, designated public schools and shopping malls.
“So meron tayong two-wheel motorized, non-motorized sa Kartilya ng Katipunan, meron tayong four-wheel sa private sa Luneta, at meron tayong innovation naman na dagdag sa Bagong Ospital ng Maynila sa kanto ng Mabini St. corner Quirino, sa tabi ng Manila Zoo,” Moreno said.
Moreno also ordered on-site booster shots for construction workers in all Manila city projects, including the new Manila Science High School in Malate, the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, the Dr. Carlos Albert High School in Sampaloc, the President Corazon Aquino General Hospital in Baseco compound, and the housing projects Tondominium 1 and 2, San Sebastian and Pedro Gil Residences.
“Kasi yung infection hindi na maiiwasan. Pami-pamilya na ang nai-infect, so sa akin ang gusto ko may additional protection kayo para walang mamatay sa COVID. Yun na lang ang iniiwasan natin, yung masawi sa COVID infection,” Moreno pointed out.
“We’ll do our best. Basta pipilitin na mayakap kayo lahat as much as possible as soon as possible para sa kaligtasan nating lahat,” he said.
Personnel from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO), started giving booster shots as early as 10:45 pm Thursday instead of the scheduled 12 midnight opening due to the high number of people in vehicles lining up early to get their booster shots.
With the shift to a 24-hour operation, Moreno said personnel from these departments would be divided into three 8-hour shifts to accommodate all vehicles that will go to the only 4-wheel drive-thru booster shot facility in the whole of Metro Manila.
MDDRMO Director Arnel Angeles disclosed that they are nearing the 6,000 mark of individuals given booster shots. As of 10 p.m. Saturday, Angeles said 5,943 individuals were able to receive their free booster shots via the drive-thru in Luneta. This is equivalent to about 2,296 four-wheel vehicles.
Moreno is also planning to use the newly-redeveloped Manila Zoo as a vaccination site for senior citizens and minors aged 5 to 11 as the national government plans to roll out the first pediatric vaccination on the first week of February.
The Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden is an ideal vaccination site, according to Moreno. The five-hectare recreation facility has lots of open spaces and after their vaccination, children and their grandparents can go around to see the animals, the garden and the museums.
“So we thought, dahil sa nagre-request na mga tao sa Manila Zoo, at least magkaroon sila ng sneak peek. At marami naman na ang mapapasyalan dito — open air, maaliwalas. Double purpose pa, maipapasyal nila ang kanilang apo o yung mga lolo at lola,” Moreno said on Saturday during his visit to the zoo.