MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led the city’s first COVID-19 vaccination simulation exercise at the Universidad de Manila (UdM)’s multi-purpose hall yesterday.
The simulation involved city health personnel and barangay healthcare workers practicing the steps to be followed for pre-registered and walk-in recipients.
“This is part of our roadmap to vaccination. In the coming months, vaccines will arrive in the country. In the coming weeks, vaccines available in the world may be approved by the regulatory agencies of our country,” Moreno said during the simulation.
A pre-registered recipient would undergo checking of vital signs, screening and verification, vaccination and spend time at a holding area for observation. Walk-in recipients would undergo checking of vital signs and walk-in registration before going through the same process as the pre-registered ones.
City health officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said the simulation showed the process for pre-registered recipients would take around six minutes while walk-in registrants would take around 11 minutes.
Moreno said the vaccination activity should be supported by a strong, dependable Wi-Fi since pre-registration records and downloading of identification cards with QR codes are dependent on internet access.
The simulation was witnessed by Department of Health representatives.
Lacuna, a medical doctor, said senior citizens who wish to avail themselves of the vaccine should have medical clearance.
In a press briefing, Moreno said the activity at UdM would be the first of many simulations for the city government to prepare for the administration of approved vaccines.
The simulation was conducted after the city government received nine COVID-19 refrigeration units it purchased from Germany. Three more will arrive in the coming days.
The units arrived at the Sta. Ana Hospital, where the city’s COVID-19 vaccine storage facility will be built. The hospital received five Haier HYC-390 refrigeration units that can store vaccines from AstraZeneca and Sinovac. It also received four other biomedical freezers that can store Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines.
Meanwhile, -86°C ULT freezers from Haier, which can store Pfizer vaccines, are set to arrive in the coming days. The units are equipped with uninterruptible power supply devices.
Officials said 50 transport coolers are also on the way for the immediate deployment of the city government’s vaccination operations.