CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- The Valenzuela City Government is targeting is targeting at least 71 percent of its adult population or roughly 320,000 residents for its COVID-19 vaccine rollout anytime soon.
This was announced by Mayor Rex Gatchallian during the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 and the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team visit on Wednesday to check the city’s readiness in executing its immunization plan against the coronavirus disease.
“There will be 17 vaccination centers and 76 vaccination teams for the city’s local immunization program,” Mayor Rex said, as the local government identifies and irons out possible challenges in vaccination program prior to its rollout.
“Those aged between 18 to 65 [targeted]—in 17 vaccination sites during the last 6 months of the year,” he added, explaining that the program will make use of the city’s contact tracing system ValTrace to validate and schedule vaccination.
The local government said participating in the vaccination program was voluntary, and residents need to pre-register and undergo consultations before they receive the vaccine. Gatchalian said he had already registered to get vaccinated.
“At this point,there are about 12,000 people who registered [for the vaccine]. I have already registered, together with few people from City Hall, kasi we want to build confidence in the population,” he said.
Valenzuela City Health Officer Dr. Jaime Exconde Jr., for his part, said the city has over 9,000 COVID-19 cases recorded. Of this number of cases, at least 8,685 have recovered while 264 died.
Meanwhile, expressing confidence in the Food and Drug Administration or FDA-approved vaccines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who led the CODE Team visit, said he and his family are willing to receive any of those COVID-19 jabs.
“Now the question is, Secretary, kayo ba magpapabakuna ng vaccine A, ito bang Pfizer, ito bang Sinovac, AstraZeneca? Kahit na ano pong bakuna ‘yan magpapabakuna po ako, at tsaka ang pamilya ko papabakunahan ko rin po if it is already their turn,” Duque said, emphasizing that he will not choose which new COVID-19 vaccine he will receive.
The official said as a health worker, however, he will be included in the prioritized sectors or groups.
Part of the national vaccine plan is to prioritize healthcare workers, frontliners in certain government agencies, uniformed personnel, indigent citizens, senior citizens, and other vulnerable populations.
The government’s Vaccine CODE team has been making rounds in various local government units across Metro Manila to discuss COVID-19 updates and the LGUs immunization plan. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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