WAITLIST. Priority recipients line up for their second doses of Covid-19 vaccines outside Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila on Saturday (May 29, 2021). Mayor Isko Moreno said in an interview on Tuesday that depending on supplies, the capital city is ready to vaccinate the A4 group, or front-liners in other essential sectors and uniformed personnel. (Photo courtesy of Manila-PIO)
MANILA – Based on queues at inoculation sites, residents of Manila have little or no vaccine hesitancy.
Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said in an interview Tuesday with a news channel that he welcomes the “good problem” of long lines at jabs centers.
“People are falling in line and patiently waiting for the vaccine. That is the case in Manila,” he said.
He said residents have gone past the hesitancy stage when limited information was available about Covid-19 vaccines.
As soon as the vaccination program rolled out, the problem shifted to the growing demand for jabs.
The Manila Health Department reported that a record 22,066 were vaccinated on Saturday in 19 mass vaccination sites, Ospital ng Maynila, Sta. Ana Hospital, and the City Hall.
Recent survey results of the Social Weather Stations showed 32 percent of respondents are willing to get vaccinated, 33 percent are unwilling, and 34 percent are uncertain.
Malacañang was not alarmed over the report, with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confident that hesitancy will disappear once more people receive the vaccines.
Domagoso said they are almost finished with the A1 category (medical front-liners), except those who got infected with Covid-19 and must recover first.
“Kaya 'yung A4 talagang marami ng nag re-request kasi halos nasagad na ng mga Metro Manila mayors ‘yung A3 or those with comorbidities. ‘Yung A1 naman halos wala ng mabakunahan (That is why many from the A4 priority group are now requesting vaccines because Metro Manila mayors have almost finished vaccinating those in the A3. For A1,) except those individuals from the medical frontlines who got infected with Covid-19 are left,” Domagoso said.
“But other than that, talagang wala ng mabakunahan. Talagang pang-A4 na lahat (we have almost finished vaccinating them. We can start with A4),” he added.
A4 are front-liners in other essential sectors and uniformed personnel.
Domagoso said Metro Manila mayors and the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases have agreed to simplify the guidelines for the A4 category. A qualified worker needs only to present an identification. (PNA)
