Another mega-vaccination hub in Taguig City is now operational to cater to at least 1,000 residents daily.
Officials of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, led by vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon, and Senator Pia Cayetano inspected the vaccination site at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City on Friday.
It is the seventh vaccination center in the city.
The other two mega-vaccination hubs are at the Lakeshore area and Vista Mall Parking Building while there four community sites at RP Cruz Elementary School, Maharlika Elementary School, EM’s Signal Village Elementary School, and Western Bicutan National High School.
Mayor Lino Cayetano said the most important aspect of mass vaccination is to meet logistical requirements.
He also reported that about 95 percent of the city’s healthcare workers have been vaccinated.
“The city continues to vaccinate those who are in categories A1, A2, and A3. We prioritize them because they are the most vulnerable sectors. If infected, there are high chances that they will experience severe symptoms,” he said.
Some 20,292 of the city’s residents have been vaccinated, 9,503 of whom are healthcare workers, 5,273 senior citizens and 5,516 aged 18 to 59 with comorbidities.
A total of 1,068 already got their second doses.
“Kailangan pa ho naming bilisan, kailangan po naming galingan pa (We still need to fast-track, we still need to do better) and then we need to add vaccination centers para ho ‘yung volume namin per day ay tumaas pa (so we can increase our volume per day),” he said.
So far, the city vaccinates 2,000 to 2,500 daily, according to Cayetano, while more vaccination hubs in partnership with private companies will be set up.
“Pero minsan ho hindi kami nakakabot ng (Sometimes, we could not reach the) 2,000 capacity so we are fixing our scheduling system to vaccinate more and we are fixing our sites,” he said.
Cayetano said the city’s vaccine supply is “still adequate” to continue the inoculation of its residents.
Vax bus
To make it accessible for residents to go to the sites, a vaccination bus was also launched on Friday.
“Aside from accessible centers, we are looking at mobile vaccination centers na lahat ng komunidad madaling mapuntahan at pasukin (that are accessible to the communities),” he said.
The bus, which can accommodate up to 200 residents daily, will be deployed to select communities, gated subdivisions, and condominiums for a maximum of three days.
Residents are encouraged to sign up with Taguig TRACE for their free shots.
Taguig City will also be part of the mini-rollout for 20,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines, produced by Russia’s Gamaleya Research Institute.
Galvez earlier said the Philippines will receive 500,000 doses of Sputnik V jabs within April. (PNA)
