Manila gives away unclaimed second doses
This is your last call because we regret to keep the vaccines in storage
Manila residents who received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine from 13 May to 9 July but, despite repeated notices, failed to claim their second dose yesterday will now have to wait further for their next shot.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said they will now administer the unclaimed Pfizer doses to those who are in line for the vaccine brand.
The Manila mayor said the city cannot wait forever for vaccinees to receive their second dose, as he emphasized his policy that vaccines should be faster than infection.
He said there is no choice but to use the vaccines because time is of the essence, and many want to avail of the protection they provide.
A total of 1,500 second doses were set to be given away yesterday to those belonging to the A1 to A5 priority groups.
Don’t take your time because it would be difficult if the Delta variant of Covid-19 hits you.
“There are 1,500 individuals out of 74,000 who were vaccinated with Pfizer who have not yet returned for some reason, which I respect. But you have to get your second dose. This was your last call,” Domagoso said.
“Whoever you are, although you have been sent a text message, and you have been messaged many times before, since you have been vaccinated the first dose, that means your number is correct. So, this is your last call because we regret to keep the vaccines in storage,” he added.
True to his word, vaccination in Manila will continue rain or shine, even during holidays and weekends,
The mayor opened the vaccination for the first dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine in the 18 designated schools and four shopping malls in Manila from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
He commended the vaccinating teams under the stewardship of Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Health Department chief Dr. Poks Pangan for going the extra mile to get more residents vaccinated at the soonest time possible.
Vaccination for the bedridden and physically-challenged residents in Districts 1, 2 and 5 also continued, with Lacuna personally leading the teams.
In appealing to the concerned residents to receive their second dose, the Manila mayor said the city government cannot wait for them forever.
Domagoso said those who were slated to receive their second dose were texted once again and advised to proceed to Universidad de Manila (UdM) where their vaccination was scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. yesterday, 24 July.
He said the second dose allotment of those who did not show up at UdM will be used by the city government as first dose for other residents who have been waiting to get vaccinated.
He stressed they will just have to wait for forthcoming Pfizer doses.
“The question is ‘When’? The answer is ‘I dunno.’ For so many times, you were given a chance. This was your last call. After that, we will have to utilize these vaccines.,” Domagoso said.
He urged all those who have already been vaccinated to take the pandemic seriously and give it priority as the scare of the Delta variant is true, and the world had seen how deadly this Covid-19 mutated virus is to humans.
“Don’t take your time because it would be difficult if the Delta variant of Covid-19 hits you,” he added.