Register for Sinovac jabs, Makati calls on residents

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City government is encouraging residents willing to be inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinese drug firm Sinovac to have themselves registered.

Interested residents may register at the website sinovac.safemakati.com, according to the city government.

The residents would be made to answer a questionnaire that would determine if they are fit to receive the Sinovac vaccine.

The city government said residents with the following symptoms should consult a doctor and place themselves under 14-day quarantine before applying for another online registration: fever of more than 37.5 degrees Celsius; cough or colds; breathing difficulties; impaired smell or taste; headache; muscle or body pain; fatigue and diarrhea.

The following residents should consider their current conditions before registering: pregnant and breastfeeding women, and those planning to get pregnant in the next six months as well as those with cancer, immune system disorders and taking chemotherapy drugs.

The city government also said those who tested positive for COVID-19 should register three months after being diagnosed with the illness, while those who received other vaccines should register four weeks after inoculation.

Some netizens who posted comments on the city government’s Facebook announcement protested, with some saying they would reject Sinovac and instead wait for the arrival of vaccines created by European drug firm AstraZeneca.

The city government previously secured a million doses of AstraZeneca through an agreement with the company and the national government.

The city government has allotted P1 billion to buy COVID-19 vaccines.