Makati boosts Covid-19 vaccination plan, preps

By Lade Jean Kabagani

February 8, 2021, 5:28 pm

<p>Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay</p>

Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay

MANILA – The local government of Makati has intensified its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination drive by launching a campaign that seeks to ensure its readiness for the inoculation.

"Masasabi kong kong handa na tayo batay sa naging resulta ng dry run na nagpakitang nasunod natin ang pamantayan ng Department of Health, kabilang na ang iti¬nagal ng bawat hakbang sa proseso para sa bawat indibiduwal (I can say that we are prepared based on the dry run results showcasing our compliance with the standards set by the Department of Health which include the processing time for vaccination of each individual)," Mayor Abigail Binay Binay said in a social media post on Monday, citing the city’s latest campaign, the "Bakuna Makati, game na!" drive.

Binay said the city government, through the Makati Health Department (MHD), recently held a simulation activity on the Covid-19 immunization program at the Makati Coliseum.

The residents will have to undergo five steps: registration, counseling, screening, vaccination, and post-vaccination monitoring.

"Nais ko ring paikliin ang process flow mula sa kasalukuyang limang hakbang kaya’t pinag-aaralan na ito ng ating task force (I'm also recommended to shorten the existing five steps, so our task force is already studying it)," she said.

Bakuna Makati campaign

Once the vaccines arrive in the city, Binay said they will be using the Makati Coliseum as a vaccination site to inoculate the initial batch of the city's front-liners under the city's Phase 1 priority list.

She said they are eyeing to inoculate around 30,000 individuals for Phase 1 of its vaccination including medical workers from both public and private sectors, barangay health emergency responders, city hall front-liners, as well as uniformed personnel such as firefighters and policemen.

The city government targets to vaccinate 1,000 individuals daily, to complete its Phase 1 vaccination program in two months period.

Under the city's Phase 2 vaccination program, Binay said they are targeting to inoculate around 460,641 individuals comprised of 98,342 senior citizens and 362,299 Makati residents aged 18 and above.

"Inaasahang aabot ng dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan para matapos ang bahaging ito ng programa, at nasa 10,920 katao ang target sa bawat araw ng pagbabakuna (We are expecting to complete this phase in two months period and we are targeting to vaccinate around 10,920 per day)," she said.

In Phase 3 of the city's vaccination plan, the city government will vaccinate non-resident workers in Makati.

Binay said they are targeting to complete the phase 3 vaccination in three months.

The city government has already identified 32 vaccination sites in Makati including 24 public schools, six stations in six selected villages, the Makati Coliseum, and the Ospital Makati (OsMak).

The schools are grouped into four zones wherein each zone has a designated cluster depot that will provide Covid-19 vaccine supplies.

Binay said this initiative will push to "smoother, faster and safer" day-to-day operations for the Bakuna Makati program.

The city government will also convert the covered courts in the villages as vaccination sites including the Asia Pacific College in Magallanes.

Binay said they are now preparing for an effective post-vaccination care system.

The city will be strictly monitoring any post-vaccination reactions through establishing dedicated teams to man 24/7 in Makati Rescue, OsMak, and Incident Command Post, she said.

The city's emergency hotline 168, Makatizen Application, and its Makati Covid-19 hotlines will also be put on alert status during the vaccination.

Vaccine arrival, deployment

Binay said they have already procured five chest freezers, six dual freezers, five bio-refrigerators, and 26 vaccine refrigerators to ensure the cold-chain management system are in place, once the city gets its vaccine supplies.

She added that they are now readying the establishment of the Emergency Vaccine Evacuation Protocols for the main vaccine depot at the dedicated Incident Command Post and operations center located at the city hall quadrangle.

The hiring of additional doctors, nurses, and midwives is still ongoing.

Binay also urged doctors and nurses to volunteer for the Bakuna Makati campaign.

"Ngunit sa gitna ng mga preparasyong ito, ang may pinakamahalagang papel ay ang ating Proud Makatizens (However, we are still in the midst of our preparations, our Makati residents have the most significant roles in this process)," said Binay. (PNA)

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