QC forms task force to oversee acquisition, distribution of COVID-19 vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government has formed a task force to ensure the expeditious and orderly acquisition and distribution of the city’s vaccine.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said “Task Force ‘Vax to Normal: The Quezon City COVID-19 Vaccine Plan” is composed of heads of various offices of the city government and representatives from private stakeholders as members.

“Ngayong marami ng mga posibleng bakuna ang nagpakita ng potensiyal laban sa virus, dapat na nating paghandaan ang mga hakbang para sa agarang pagbili at distribusyon nito kapag naaprubahan na,” Belmonte said in a statement.

(Now that many of the possible vaccines have shown potential against the virus, we must prepare the steps for its immediate purchase and distribution once approved.)

“We are organizing early to ensure that the directions set by the national government will be followed and that those who need the virus most are prioritized,” the mayor added.

The Task Force is mandated to profile members of priority sectors for inoculation, said the city government.

The task force is likewise tasked with selecting and acquiring the vaccine or vaccines authorized for use in the Philippines in coordination with the national government, based on effectiveness and practical considerations such as the vaccine’s storage, handling, equipment and training requirements.

Other mandates of the task force are as follows:

• Authorized to secure direct supplies from the national government and will study the possibility of direct procurement under applicable laws, subject to the guidelines and approval of the national government

• May enter into tripartite agreements among the supplier, the private sector and the City, if allowed by the national government

• Responsible for the development and administration of a system for registering beneficiaries, tracking the distribution of doses and monitoring of any adverse events following immunization

• Selecting vaccination centers, storage areas for vaccines, transportation, mobilization, funding and information dissemination

Of the 1,400 new COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday, 82 came from Quezon City.  [ac]