Quezon City identifies COVID-19 vaccination sites

MANILA, Philippines — Six public schools and four other facilities in Quezon City will serve as vaccination sites as part of the local government’s inoculation program against COVID-19, Mayor Joy Belmonte announced yesterday.

These are the Batasan Hills National High School, Aguinaldo Elementary School, Doña Josefa Jara Martinez High School, Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School, Emilio Jacinto Elementary School and Culiat High School.

Belmonte said the Project 6 tennis court, NGC covered court, Kaligayahan activity center and Fairview covered court would also serve as vaccination centers.

“We chose these locations because these are accessible to residents in the city’s six districts,” she said.

The local government is also eyeing to establish 24 vaccination sites in addition to the three city-run hospitals: QC General Hospital, Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital and Novaliches District Hospital.

City health department chief Esperanza Arias said they have identified other vaccination sites but these are still being evaluated in compliance with the standards of the Department of Health.

“A vaccination site must have one entry and one exit, comfort rooms and ample space for the free movement of staff and observance of the minimum health standards,” Arias said.

She added that a standby generator set, an ambulance as well as the presence of barangay health emergency response team personnel are also required.

“For every site, the city government will designate 22 employees composed of physicians, marshals, vaccinators, counselors and administrative staff,” Arias said.

Quezon City has entered into a tripartite agreement with British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca and the national government for the delivery of 1.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccines are expected to be delivered by the third quarter of this year.