Over 5,000 essential workers of Makati City get free flu, pneumonia vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Makati has provided free flu and pneumonia shots to over 5,000 health workers and other essential employees of the city hall in a bid to boost their immune system amid the prevailing SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the country.

To date, the Makati City government has given flu vaccine to its 5,130 frontline workers, including those in its public safety, rescue, social welfare, and sanitation offices. The local government’s health office is set to administer to them the pneumonia vaccine in August.

“By immunizing our frontliners and essential workforce against these two potentially deadly diseases of the respiratory system, we aim to strengthen their resistance to SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 infection,” Makati Mayor Abby Binay said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the local chief executive, the immunization program covers 9,706 frontline employees of the Makati city hall with priority given to city doctors, nurses, and health personnel.

Aside from the vaccines, Biny said the city’s frontline workers were also provided free vitamins.

In the absence of a vaccine for COVID-19, the Department of Health recommended flu and pneumonia vaccines for the prevention of additional complications from the coronavirus disease.

As of July 28, Makati City has recorded 1,957 cases of COVID-19, including 913 recoveries and 126 deaths.

KGA