Quezon City opens pop-up vax sites today

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City government will open today at least 100 pop-up vaccination sites in different barangays to encourage more citizens to be inoculated against COVID-19.

A total of 130 teams of doctors, nurses, other allied healthcare workers, barangay workers and volunteers will go down to puroks to administer first, second or booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said this strategy will help the city government sift through local communities and identify those that still have not been jabbed.

“Our target is to vaccinate 100 percent of the adult and pediatric population and through this area-based approach, we can provide easy access to vaccination for our citizens in the grassroots,” she said.

To ensure the success of the rollout, barangay officials, purok leaders and community organizations will be tapped to encourage the unvaccinated to get their doses.

Vaccine brands that are less sensitive to temperature – such as Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Janssen – will be used.

Meanwhile, all children who wish to get jabbed will be scheduled for vaccination at pediatric vaccination sites or referred to the city’s 66 health centers that will remain open to accommodate interested vaccinees.

Bedridden seniors or persons with comorbidities will be inoculated at home by members of the medical team assigned to the area or referred to health centers for a home vaccination schedule.

“We are encouraging everyone to get inoculated when the pop-up vaccination sites are set up in their respective streets or purok, as well as in multi-purpose halls, community parks and plazas nearest their place of residence,” QC Task Force Vax to Normal action officer Dr. Maria Lourdes Eleria said.