Factory workers get COVID-19 jabs in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines — Factory workers were among the essential employees qualified to get COVID-19 vaccines in Valenzuela, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said over the weekend.

Gatchalian said the city, known for being Metro Manila’s factory capital, should honor its blue collar workers by giving them COVID-19 shots.

He said these workers should be the first beneficiaries of the city’s rollout of those under the A4 priority group on Saturday, when the country commemorated Independence Day.

At least 594 industry-based workers were vaccinated in Barangay Pasolo on Saturday.

The inoculated workers are employed at 10 companies, mostly production and manufacturing firms, according to city hall.

Around 525 teachers and non-teaching staff also received COVID-19 vaccines in the city’s People’s Park Amphitheater.

Gatchalian urged companies to register their employees with the city government’s vaccination program.

In a statement, Peter Quintana of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Valenzuela asked workers to get vaccinated to help reopen the economy.

“This will be a good boost to the economy. This is a good step to achieve herd immunity per company,” Quintana said.