(PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Pasay City government has partnered with one of the biggest shopping centers in the country to put up a giga vaccination hub within the city to accommodate more vaccine recipients nationwide.
Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said the city government has forged a partnership with the management of SM Mall of Asia to put up a spacious vaccination center with a drive-through section.
Rubiano said they might need the help of other local government units (LGUs) to facilitate and man the planned giga vaccination center.
"Kaya nga po makikiusap ako sa ibang punong-lungsod na kung maaari ay pahiramin nila kami ng kanilang mga health personnel para sa ganoon ay mas marami ang mabakunahan natin kada araw (That's why I will ask other local executives to lend us their health personnel if possible so that we can get more vaccinated every day)," she said in a Viber message.
She said the giga vaccination hub will not be exclusive to the Pasay residents, but it will also cater to residents from other cities and provinces.
"Kahit sino po ay pwede rito magpabakuna para makatulong naman tayo sa kampanya ng pamahalaan na mabakunahan ang 70 porsyento ng ating mga kababayan para makamit natin ang tinatawag na herd immunity (Anyone can get vaccinated here so that we can help in the national government's campaign to vaccinate at least 70 percent of our countrymen so that we can achieve the so-called herd immunity)," she said.
The vaccination facility is designed to have very sufficient space equipped with air-conditioning systems and television sets to ensure the public’s convenience upon waiting for their turn for the vaccination.
Once operational, the Pasay giga vaccination center located at the SM MOA's Galeon dome, Seaside Boulevard will be open to all Filipinos.
“Kaya naman po handang-handa na kami magbakuna at inaantay na lang naming dumating iyong maraming mga bakuna para sa ganoon ay doon natin gagawin ang vaccination sa ating malaking pasilidad (We are ready for the inoculation and we are just waiting for a bulk of vaccines so that we can conduct the vaccination in our biggest facility)," Rubiano said.
To date, the city government has completed the vaccination of 42,266 first batch of medical health workers.
The city has temporarily halted the vaccination for the past seven days as it already utilized the city's vaccine supply.
“Bagamat tapos na po kami sa ating mga health workers subalit nahinto po ang ating vaccination dahil walang supply at aabot pa lamang po sa 5,300 ang mga senior citizens na ating nabakunahan (Although we are done with our health workers, our vaccination has been stopped because there is no supply and we have only vaccinated 5,300 senior citizens)," Rubiano said.
The vaccination will resume once the city gets another vaccine supply from the national government, she noted. (PNA)
