MANILA, Philippines — The Marikina city government will inoculate non-resident workers against COVID-19 once it reaches its herd immunity target of 270,000 residents, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said.
Teodoro said he has informed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Vince Dizon of their next move once they obtain herd immunity.
“We will be vaccinating or inoculating workers who are not residing in Marikina but working here in the city,” he said during an interview on Friday night with “The Chiefs” on One News/TV5.
Teodoro did not say how many residents in Marikina have so far received the jabs acquired by the national government.
Marikina has seven inoculation sites, including its mega vaccination facility at the Marikina Sports Complex, which can administer an average of 3,000 to 5,000 jabs a day.
To fast-track the rollout of the vaccines, Teodoro said they will expand their vaccination teams to 32 from the current number of 12.
The local chief executive is proposing that his initiative be done on a policy level for the purposes of a more systematic approach and easy monitoring, especially for those in the A4 category or economic frontliners.
“We need to ensure the institutional integrity of this A4 category,” he said.
Teodoro said unlike before, more people are now willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. There are at least 76 active COVID-19 cases in Marikina, according to the latest report of the city health office.