Manila vaccination for senior citizens starts

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city government started vaccinating over the weekend senior citizens against COVID-19, especially those with comorbidities.

Mayor Isko Moreno said vaccination sites were set up in the city’s sixth districts to make the process more convenient for the elderly.

Around 150 elderly dialysis patients at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Tondo were inoculated yesterday with AstraZeneca vaccines.

After health workers, seniors with comorbidities are at the top of the priority list as they are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections, Moreno said.

The local government targets to inoculate a total of 2,380 senior citizens in Manila.

“Those who have pre-registered will be prioritized. But seniors who are walk-in clients will not be turned away as long as there are available vaccines,” Moreno said.

Under the prioritization framework of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, senior citizens are listed under Priority Group A2. Persons with comorbidities are under Priority Group A3.

Manila has moved on to A2 after vaccinating hospital workers and other frontliners.

One of the first to line up for AstraZeneca vaccine at the GABMMC was a 60-year-old dialysis patient called Tatay Edgar.

Asked if he felt any side effects after getting vaccinated, Tatay Edgar replied, “OK naman po.”

He said he wanted to get vaccinated to prolong his life: “Gusto kong umiwas sa COVID para naman humaba-haba pa ang buhay ko.”

Edgar thanked Moreno for prioritizing senior citizens in the inoculation program.

“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Yorme dahil nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon para mabakunahan,” he said.

Moreno urged seniors citizens to go to the 12 vaccination stations in the city. There are two vaccination sites per district: Barangays 32 and 128 in District I; Barangays 154 and 210 in District II; Barangays 345 and 377 in District III; Barangays 419 and 576 in District IV; Barangays 704 and 803 in District V, and Barangays 604 and 627 in District VI.

More elderly get vaccine shots

The local governments of Caloocan and Navotas started yesterday the vaccination of senior citizens and those with comorbidities.

The inoculation of the elderly in Caloocan was held at the Kasarinlan Elementary School and Buena Park covered court, Mayor Oscar Malapitan said.

Those aged 18 to 59 who are at risk of COVID-19 infection because of pre-existing conditions were also vaccinated.

A portion of Barangay 28 in Caloocan, which logged 44 active cases of COVID-19 was placed on lockdown.

In Navotas, at least 200 slots were opened for senior citizens who would like to be vaccinated at the San Jose Academy, Mayor Toby Tiangco said.

AstraZeneca vaccines were used on the elderly.

In Malabon, 90 percent or almost 900 of health workers were given their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, according to public information officer Bong Padua.

Padua said the local government targets to vaccinate 48,000 senior citizens, prioritizing 15,000 indigent ones next week. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab