Muntinlupa City’s 45,000 senior citizens to get Astrazeneca jab
AFTER the successful inoculation of its frontline health workers, Muntinlupa City is preparing for the vaccination of about 45,000 elderly residents following the expected delivery of the vaccines it purchased from a Britishswedish pharmaceutical company.
Muntinlupa Public Information Officer Tez Navarro told the Businessmirror in a text message that all senior citizens in the city will be immunized against Covid-19 “as soon as the Astrazeneca [vaccines they ordered] arrive.”
She said the LGU is “hoping to receive this month” the 400,000 doses of Astrazeneca jabs it procured for P170 million under a tripartite agreement it forged with the National Task Force against Covid-19 and Astrazeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines.
This will commence their vaccination of the A2 priority population group comprised of 60 years old and above individuals, she added.
Muntinlupa City Health Office (CHO) Acting Chief Dr. Juancho Bunye said they are coordinating with the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs in preparing the vaccination of more than 45,000 elderly residents.
He added that 19 public schools, including one private school, have been identified as vaccination centers for the rollout of the immunization activities for the city’s aging population.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi encouraged the senior citizens and other members of the priority groups to avail themselves of the city’s vaccination services for them to have an added protection against Covid-19 infection.
The local chief executive, likewise, urged the public to pre-register in the city’s vaccination registration online by going to this site: https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac.
As of March 29, the CHO has recorded 5,657 frontliners from Ospital ng Muntinlupa, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Medical Center Muntinlupa, and other private hospitals who received the Sinovac and Astrazeneca vaccines.
Dra. Maria Rochelle Abat, National Immunization Program coordinator for Covid-19 in Muntinlupa City, noted that the inoculation of city health workers is ongoing and 269 or 37 percent local frontliners, such as members of barangay health emergency teams and contact tracers, have already received their first dose of Covid-19 jabs.
Last April 5, Muntinlupa City started vaccinating members of A3 and A4 priority groups that include persons with comorbidities and frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel in 12 initial vaccination centers.
Bunye said the LGU is aiming to complete until next week the vaccination for the remaining A1 subpriority group of frontliners from stand-alone facilities, clinics and diagnostic centers, dental clinics, and other institutions.
On a daily basis, 444 individuals are targeted to be inoculated, before proceeding to vaccinate the senior citizens, he added.
As of April 4, Muntinlupa has posted 7,820 confirmed cases with 6,378 recoveries,1,233 active cases, 209 reported deaths, 206 suspect cases, and 814 probable cases. Ospital ng Muntinlupa has reached 136-percent bed capacity utilization on Covid-19 related cases.
Navarro said barangays were directed to reactivate local isolation centers to accommodate asymptomatic cases and residents with mild symptoms to decongest primary health care and quarantine facilities.
She added that the LGU, through the Department of Disaster Resilience and Management, will intensify its citywide cleaning and disinfection activities to prevent further transmission of the virus.
With the rising number of Covid-19 cases nationwide, Mayor Fresnedi advised his constituents to strictly observe health protocols, such as frequent hand-washing, wearing of face masks and face shields, and physical distancing, especially now that the enhanced community quarantine is implemented anew in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.