Isko recalls COVID-19 vaccination no walk-in policy

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday recalled his order scrapping walk-ins for COVID vaccination of essential workers under the A4 priority group.

City public information office chief Julius Leonen said Moreno decided to allow walk-ins again amid the low turnout of vaccine recipients at inoculation sites.

“Ayaw ko na pahirapan pa ang mga tao. I want to understand them dahil may mga kanya-kanyang dahilan and most of them are economic reasons. Let us just accommodate everyone,” Moreno said.

The city government allocated 28,000 doses of COVID vaccines, but only 4,210 people showed up at 22 vaccination sites in Manila yesterday.

“Very low ang vaccination turnout because of the no walk-in policy,” Leonen said.

City hall records showed that out of 2,500 doses of COVID vaccine allocated at the Lucky Chinatown Mall, only 170 doses were administered; at SM City Manila, 233 doses; SM San Lazaro, 313, and Robinsons Place Ermita, 170 doses.

Earlier, the city government said it would no longer allow walk-in vaccine recipients starting this week.

Only those who will receive a text message of confirmation through CoVax Manila will be entertained at vaccination sites, Leonen said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Manila recorded its highest daily COVID-19 vaccination on June 20 after administering 27,642 doses.

“It’s an all-time high record in a single day. This is the result of long queues at vaccination sites. I think what matters most is we vaccinate people immediately, especially after cases of Delta COVID variant were detected in the country,” Moreno said.