Published February 5, 2021, 5:43 PM
For Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos, submitting oneself to anti-COVID vaccination is a question of patriotism.
(From left to right) DoH Secretary Francisco Duque III, Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos, and MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos during Friday’s inspection. (MMDA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“It is a patriotic duty to get inoculated as it protects us from COVID-19. We should do this not only for ourselves but for our family as well,” Abalos said Friday.
The MMDA chief made the remark even as a lot of Filipinos are still unwilling to receive the vaccine for fear of possible side effects.
To avoid wasting the vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) has urged local government units to prepare a substitute list in case those set to receive the shot don't show up.
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Twitter)
In a presentation made by Rubiano during the visit of Sec. Harry Roque and the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team at the Pasay City Hall on February 4, the mayor detailed every step that they have been taking to prepare for the campaign which she describes as one of the biggest undertakings that her administration has embarked on.
Rubiano said to ensure their success, she has tapped the “VACC to the Future” Task Force to spearhead all the activities relative to the vaccination program.
“Gusto ko po kasing siguruhin ang tagumpay ng kampanya natin sa pagbabakuna upang sa gayon ay makabalik na tayong lahat sa normal na pamumuhay, kaya naman lahat ng kailangang paghahanda ay ating ginagawa para mawala na sa buhay natin ang pandemyang ito (I want to ensure the success of our vaccination campaign so that we could go back to our normal lives, that is why we are doing all the preparation to get rid of this pandemic
(MARIKINA PIO/ MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Teodoro signed Executive Order (EO) No. 1, Series of 2021 to help instill confidence among the city’s residents on the vaccine and to provide them with an efficient and effective inoculation drive against the disease.
The task force is composed of the city mayor as chairperson and the vice-mayor as co-chairperson, and eight medical experts a pulmonologist, an oncologist, a molecular biologist, and five infectious diseases specialists, to guarantee the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. City department heads and other local officials are also members of the task force.
Under the EO, the task force has the following functions:
FILE: VACCINATION DRILL. “Vaccinated” residents sit in the observation area during Covid-19 vaccination simulation exercises at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City on Wednesday (Feb. 3, 2021). They stayed in the area for 30 minutes to monitor for possible side effects. (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler)
MANILA – Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Thursday signed an executive order (EO) creating a task force that will oversee the city’s vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).Under EO 1 series of 2021, the Marikina City Covid-19 Vaccination Task Force will be in charge of the following functions:
Vaccine Assessment – assess and evaluate the vaccines to be acquired by the city based on its effectiveness, safety, and other considerations such as storage, handling, equipment, and training requirements. It shall include the formulation of eligibility criteria for ensuring that each priority sector of the population will receive and are mat