Some 100 medical professionals and other healthcare workers of Pasay City General Hospital received their first doses of CoronaVac on Tuesday.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya also announced at the event that Pasay will receive additional 5,000 doses of China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccines to accommodate more healthcare workers.

The city was initially sent 300 doses.

“Lahat po ng pangunahing local tertiary hospitals ay binibigyan natin ng bakuna para masimulan na ang (All primary local tertiary hospitals are provided with vaccines so we can start the) local vaccination program,” Malaya, who also received his first shot at the Pasay hospital, said.

“Magbibigay po ng karagdagang bakuna ang government sa (We will provide additional vaccines for) Pasay City General Hospital,” he added.

Malaya, representatives of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 and local officials witnessed the vaccination of doctors, nurses, and other medical staff.

He said the vaccination program is aided by the dissemination of factual and science-based information.

To address public confidence issues over efficacy, Malaya said the DILG has been conducting series of town hall meetings, community visitations, and other information drive with local government units.

“Ginagawa po namin ito para tumaas ang vaccine confidence ng mga tao (We are doing this to gain the trust and confidence of the people),” he said.

Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto Rubiano, who recently recovered from Covid-19, thanked the national government for the vaccines.

She reminded her constituents not to be complacent and continue adhering to minimum health standards.

“Hindi po biro ang magkaroon ng Covid-19. Ayoko ko pong maranasan niyo ang naranasan ko at maranasan ng aking pamilya lalo na yung ating mga healthcare frontliners na kailangan din nilang mabakunahan (Covid-19 is no joke. I don’t want you to experience what I and my family have experienced. Healthcare workers in particular needed the vaccination),” she said via teleconference.

The city government has allotted PHP160 million for the procurement of vaccines and other logistical requirements. It signed a tripartite agreement with the national government and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. (PNA)