Isko asks for patience amid vaccine confusion

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday appealed for more patience from the public amid confusion in some of the city’s COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Moreno explained that the city government needs to implement cut-offs in the number of vaccine recipients due to limited supply.

“The vaccines coming in are not enough. That is why there is a cut-off to prevent the people from waiting for nothing. We have used the second doses to have them vaccinated,” he said.

“The people have choices on which vaccination sites to go to. These are posted regularly on Facebook,” Moreno added.

There are 22 vaccination facilities in Manila. Walk-in is allowed. Non-residents who work in the city can also get vaccinated.

Some residents complained that they lined up as early as 6 a.m. to receive COVID vaccines in malls, but they still ran out of slots.

“The problem is they all want to get vaccinated in malls,” Moreno said, adding that there are other inoculation sites in schools and district hospitals.

He noted that only 20 percent of the vaccinees come on the date of their scheduled slots.

Meanwhile, Moreno approved yesterday funding of P7.5 million for accident insurance of barangay officials.

At least 45,700 barangay officials and personnel, including tanod or watchmen, will get insurance benefits.

“They need this because they are deployed in the frontlines,” Moreno said.

Under the Government Service Insurance System proposal, each barangay official is entitled to receive accidental death compensation of P150,000, medical reimbursement of P15,000 and burial assistance worth P10,000.