Isko Moreno approves P38.4 million advance payment for AstraZenca vaccines

Published February 19, 2021 05:32 PM By JULIA MARI ORNEDO,GMA News

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday approved a P38.4-million advance payment to British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca for 800,000 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.

The Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said the amount was equivalent to a 20-percent advance payment.

“The key to the city's economic recovery is mass vaccination against COVID-19. Kapag may bakuna na, makakagalaw na ulit ang mga tao. Businesses can reopen and those who lost their jobs can once again go out and seek employment,” Moreno said in a statement.

The Manila PIO said the doses ordered by the local government will be enough to vaccinate 400,000 individuals.

Over 88,000 people have so far registered

for a COVID-19 vaccine through the website launched by the Manila City government at the start of the year.

The local government also recently inaugurated a storage facility for vaccines at the Sta. Ana Hospital.

Local authorities aim to set up at least 18 vaccination sites that can serve 1,000 people daily.

Moreno also expressed willingness to get vaccinated in public to boost vaccine confidence.

“Yes, I will willingly get vaccinated publicly so I can show people that the vaccine is safe. Hopefully, the example that I set will convince them to get vaccinated, too," he said. -NB, GMA News

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