The city government of Manila conducted the second simulation of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) mass vaccination that targeted 1,000 community-based individuals.

“Ito na yung pinakamalapit sa totoong senaryo na makikita ninyo sapagkat walking distance yung vaccination site within a particular radius ng community. (This is the nearest possible scenario because the vaccination site is within a particular radius of the community),” Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said during the press conference.

The activity was held at the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, Manila on Thursday.

Domagoso said the objective of the exercise is to be able to see the flow of the vaccination process.

It also sought to observe other challenges to be able to improve the handling of the rollout.

He said he chose to conduct the simulation in Tondo as this is the area that was first placed under a hard lockdown.

Domagoso said it is also the area with the most number of Covid-19 infections, followed by Sampaloc.

Domagoso said currently, Manila has 18 possible inoculation sites.

“And if we do the numbers, if today we are going to perfect the time and motion targeting 1,000 clients then we will have a maximum goal, based on the initial plan, of 18,000 individuals per day. If we multiply it with simple math, 18,000 x 30 days, so more or less we will be able to vaccinate about 540,000 in one month,” Domagoso said.

He added that the city government of Manila is targeting to vaccinate about 980,000 residents to be able to achieve herd immunity.

However, he said they are considering vaccinating non-Manileños as well, most especially medical front-liners working in hospitals who are not residents of the city.

“Hindi ako magsasawang mag-simulate nang mag-simulate. We must continue to pursue these exercises para magkaroon tayo ng muscle memory at mapadali ang pagpapabakuna (I will not get tired of doing simulations. We must continue to pursue these exercises for us to achieve muscle memory and make the vaccination process easier) once vaccines become available in the city,” Domagoso said. (PNA)