One million reasons for hope

The Quezon City government recently announced that it has successfully administered over one million vaccine doses across Quezon City. What does this figure mean, in the grand scheme of things? If we visualize it: QC has vaccinated enough people to fill up 40 Araneta Coliseums. Or 50 MOA arenas. At the rate the QC government is going, the city is set to hit targets for achieving herd immunity in only three months.

More than just good news, however, what Quezon City gives us is a microcosm of the pandemic-free nation we continue to dream of – a glimpse into a near future we can finally look forward to. Quezon City’s whole-of-city approach to its vaccination program is proof that our country’s larger whole-of-nation approach will bear, and is bearing, fruit. The city’s feat is thanks to the perseverance and organized leadership of the servant-leaders in both local and national government.

“The key has always been a whole-of-city approach where all stakeholders, public and private, join hands to collaborate on this program. Through this, we are confident we will reach our goal of population protection in the coming months for as long as vaccine supply stabilizes,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Is this not perfect evidence of what a focused and compassionate government can achieve, hand in hand with a united citizenry? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – lasting peace in our nation is not earned through division and criticism, but through humble unity and shared experience. It is not hard to see that Mayor Joy’s efforts to vaccinate have been successful because the principle of unity is the guiding light.

It is this convergence of the citizenry and its government that has afforded Quezon City its incredible results. Stakeholders such as malls, homeowners associations, businesses and many others have chosen to cooperate with the QC LGU to continuously improve the QCProtektado Vaccination Program.

“From our police officers who ensure that the vaccine supply is secure from the warehouse to the sites, the doctors, nurses and other medical workers who screen patients and administer the vaccine doses, up to the volunteers who marshal our sites, distribute forms and clean up after, and the encoders who record our patients’ data individually — the continuous success of our program is due to your unwavering efforts. We are truly grateful for your service to our QCitizens,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Quezon City is not only an example for other local government units in its achievements, but also in its critical understanding of what still needs to be done. Amidst irregular supply issues, vaccination hesitancy and even vaccine envy, the QC LGU and Vax to Normal Task Force are unafraid to leave the ninety-nine for the one. They continue to persevere for every single QCitizen.

“While this achievement is an important milestone for the program, we can only relax once we have inoculated the last QCitizen eligible for the vaccine,” said QC Task Force co-chair Joseph Juico.

I humbly join Mayor Joy in appealing to the QCitizens to remain patient, vigilant and hopeful as the local government continues to push for vaccine allocations. As long as we remain united in the shared dream of a pandemic-free nation, earning immunity for the city is absolutely possible, even in our near future. Our leaders have wholeheartedly committed to the thankless work of procuring these vaccines and pioneering vaccine programs and campaigns. They are doing their part. The critical question that remains is: are we?