Taguig eyes 24-hour COVID-19 vaccination hubs

MANILA, Philippines — Three vaccination centers in Taguig will be open around the clock once the city government starts its immunization campaign against COVID-19.

In a statement yesterday, the city government said the 24-hour centers would be located at the Lakeshore Vaccine Training and Information Center in Barangay Lower Bicutan, Bonifacio Global City and near the Vista Mall in Barangay Calzada-Tipas.

The three sites would be included in the 40 vaccination centers that the city government would open once it starts the COVID-19 vaccination program.

The 24-hour vaccination centers would “not only be more convenient but will also allow a faster turnout,” the city government said. “These vaccination hubs are also strategically positioned in Taguig and are easily accessible to residents.”

The city government aims to form 200 vaccination teams that would give inoculate 630,000 residents within two to three months.

It is expecting the arrival of doses of COVID-19 vaccine made by UK drug firm AstraZeneca, secured through an agreement with the company, and the national government and has tapped a cold chain company to handle the vaccines.

San Juan offers cash

The city government of San Juan will give P100,000 in cash incentives to any barangay that will have no new COVID-19 cases for 100 straight days.

Mayor Francis Zamora said yesterday he signed Ordinance No. 1 Series of 2021 allowing the city government to hand out cash rewards to entice barangays to strictly enforce health and safety protocols to keep COVID-19 at bay.

“The cash prize must be used by the barangay for COVID-related activities,” he said in a statement on Facebook.

The barangays in San Juan with no active COVID-19 cases are Addition Hills, Greenhills, Little Baguio, Onse, Progreso and Rivera.

There are 31 active cases in San Juan. Of the number, six are from Barangay Sta. Lucia.

Valenzuela to protect med students

Mayor Rex Gatchalian on Thursday said the city government will have measures in place to prevent the potential transmission of COVID-19 at the housing sites of students with the upcoming resumption of face-to-face classes for medical courses.

He said he met with officials of Our Lady of Fatima University and owners of housing sites and dormitories that the university provided.

“We met them and set the standards for each housing site,” he said.

Last month, President Duterte allowed classes in medical schools in general community quarantine and modified GCQ areas with hospitals that treat COVID-19 patients to resume. –  Emmanuel Tupas