Plan ready for Manila cops

Francisco said Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has pledged to provide the vaccine allocation for Manila’s police force once the city’s order has arrived

The Manila Police District (MPD) is ready with a vaccination plan for its 4,300 officers and men, who are set to receive the shot as soon as they receive the go-signal.

P/BGen. Leo Francisco, MPD director, said he does not know yet where their vaccine allocation will be sourced, whether it will be provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Capital Region Police Office or Manila City Hall, nor the number of shots they will be receiving.

However, he said the MPD will welcome whatever vaccine they will be receiving.

In an interview with Daily Tribune, Francisco said Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has pledged to provide the vaccine allocation for Manila’s police force once the city’s order has arrived.

Manila only has 3,000 China-made vaccines, capable of inoculating 1,500 individuals, which have been allocated for medical frontliners, as per the instruction of the Inter-Agency Task Force.

During the ceremonial vaccination on Tuesday at the Philppine General Hospital, he and Mayor Domagoso were eager to avail of the vaccine. However, they were told that due to the limited supply, the first shipment was allocated solely for health workers.

Even at the vaccination at Sta. Ana Hospital, only medical workers benefited from the early vaccination.

Only Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Dr. Arnold Pangan, acting Manila health officer, received the vaccine among top-ranking city officials because they are both physicians.

Based on the instruction of the PNP, Francisco said police doing daily patrol will be prioritized for the vaccine.

He reiterated the vaccination is voluntary and not mandatory. In short, MPD personnel can refuse to have the shot or they can wait for their choice of vaccine.

“No one will be forced or commanded to have themselves vaccinated. This will be of their own volition if they want to get it,” he stressed.