Muntinlupa’s city government on Wednesday began rolling out its vaccination program using 3,000 doses of the Russia-made coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine, Sputnik V, which was donated by the national government.
In outdoor ceremonies at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) grounds in Alabang, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for the donation.
Through the donated Sputnik V vaccines, local officials hope to test the feasibility of the expanded use of other vaccines that have similarly special low-temperature storage requirements.
OsMun is working closely with the private sector, particularly the Asian Hospital and Medical Center (AHMC), in its vaccination rollout, which started with 380 individuals under the A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) categories.
“Ang game plan ay pababain ang kaso (habang) tumatakbo ang ekonomiya (at) habang binabakunahan ang lahat so that sa Pasko sana, we would all be having a very happy Christmas here in Metro Manila (The game plan is to drive the number of cases down while keeping the economy running and vaccinating everyone so that by Christmas, we would all be having a very happy Christmas here in Metro Manila),” Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benhur Abalos said.
Muntinlupa is the southernmost city of the National Capital Region with a population of 504,000 in nine barangays.
Abalos also pinned his hopes on a locally made and more cost-effective refrigerant that could handle crucial vaccine shipments at the required sub-zero temperatures to help address the lack of a “cold chain system” storage and transport network in the city.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, meanwhile, admitted they have been struggling with the public’s general fear of getting inoculated but urged the people to get vaccinated.
“Tumulong po tayo sa pag-eradicate ng pandemyang ito sa pamamagitan ng pagbabakuna (Let us help eradicate the pandemic by having ourselves vaccinated),” Biazon said.
Resident Vicenta Barcellano did not take a lot of convincing as she was among the first in line during the Sputnik V vaccination.
Barcellano celebrated her 69th birthday last month and she said getting vaccinated was her present to herself.
In attendance at the event were Special Envoy to the Russian Federation Olivia Limpe-Aw, World Health Organization Representative Dr. Rowena Capistrano, MMDA Public Affairs Director Sharon Gentillan, OsMun Director Dr. Edwin Dimatatac, AHMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jose M. Acuin, Muntinlupa City Health Office chief Dr. Juancho Bunyi, Muntinlupa City Council Committee on Health and Sanitation Councilor Allan Camilon, and Councilor Ryan Bagatsing.
On May 1, a total of 15,000 doses of Sputnik V were delivered to the country by a Qatar Airways flight from Moscow via Doha.
The initial doses were divided among five cities in Metro Manila: Taguig, Manila, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and Makati.
On March 19, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Sputnik V vaccine, which is manufactured by the Russian medical research institute Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology.
The Muntinlupa government opened its fourth major vaccination hub at the Barangay Sucat Covered Court on May 4.
The other three are at the Filinvest Alabang Steel Parking, which was launched on April 30; SM Center Muntinlupa Open Parking Area in Barangay Tunasan, which was opened on April 27; and the Ayala Malls South Park in Barangay Alabang, which was set up on April 24.
As of May 1, a total of 24,163 Muntinlupa residents have been administered the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine – 19,991 were inoculated with Sinovac, and 4,172 with AstraZeneca.
Meanwhile, 843 residents from priority groups have received their second dose.
Muntinlupa City has logged 9,924 recoveries, 1,288 active cases, 299 reported deaths, 169 suspect cases, and 980 probable cases as of May 4. (PNA)
