Manila virus cases on the rise
Private medical health workers are next
While the City of Manila eyes medical frontliners in private hospitals and clinics as recipients of its next round of vaccination, Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso admitted there was an alarming increase in the number of infections despite repeated calls for his constituents to keep vigilant against the virus.
In his regular live broadcast, the mayor noted that as of 12 noon of 2 March, the city registered 61 new Covid cases, and from the average 300 active cases for the past four months, the number has risen to 575.
“There has been another increase in infections that is why we have to be vigilant. Have yourselves vaccinated if it is already available,” Domagoso said.
He admitted he is raring to have himself vaccinated, but he is merely following the national government’s directive that prioritizes medical frontliners.
“I will have myself vaccinated in public. Not everyday is Christmas. I’ve already had seven. I don’t want to have an eighth,” he added, referring to the seven instances when he unknowingly got directly and fully exposed to Covid-19 carriers; fortunately, he did not get infected.
Meanwhile, the Manila mayor wants medical frontliners in private hospitals and clinics to be next in the free mass inoculation being administered by the Manila city government since there is a limited supply of the vaccine.
There has been another increase in infections that is why we have to be vigilant. Have yourselves vaccinated if it is already available.
“Next will be the doctors and nurses and other medical frontliners in private clinics and hospitals in the city. This is not just for us. We will also share this with doctors and medical frontliners on top of those in the city’s public hospitals,” Domagoso explained.
“In case there are extra shots and nobody wants to avail of them, I will give these to other frontliners, especially drivers and employees of malls or hotels, so that commuters and drivers will have peace of mind and those that provide service in malls and hotels and their customers,” he added.
He reported the vaccination rollout at Sta. Ana Hospital was a complete success and the continuous simulation exercises the city conducted paid off.
Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, who is a doctor, was the first to get the jab from among the city’s health frontliners.
She and the mayor had been consistently urging the public to get themselves vaccinated once the opportunity presents itself, saying without the vaccine, one is 100 percent at risk of death if infected with the coronavirus.
“We had many simulations, thanks to the Manila Health Department and to Sta. Ana Hospital director, Dr. Grace Padilla. We finished the vaccination without any hitches and without any vaccine going to waste,” Domagoso said.