Pasay Mayor receives dose of AstraZeneca vaccine

Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano on Monday got her dose of COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by British-Swedish biotech firm AstraZeneca, city government said.

In a statement, the Pasay Public Information Office said the local chief executive received the vaccine at T. Paez Elementary School at 2 p.m.

Rubiano, who was previously infected with COVID-19, also acknowledged President Rodrigo Duterte's approval of vaccination of mayors and governors in high-risk areas for the virus.

“Gusto ko pong pasalamatan ang ating mahal na Pangulong Duterte dahil pinayagan niya na mabakunahan ang mga mayor at gobernador sapagkat malaking bagay po ito para maipagpatuloy namin ang pagsi-serbisyo sa mga tao na walang pangamba na mahahawa kami ng virus,” the mayor said.

(I would like to thank our President because he allowed us to get vaccinated because this would help us serve more of our people without fear that the virus will infect us.)

According to the US Center for Disease and Control Prevention,  it would take a few weeks for the body to gain immunity against COVID-19 after vaccination, which means it's possible that a person can still be infected with the severe viral ailment before or after vaccination.

Meanwhile, Rubiano also said Duterte's approval to allow local chief executives to get inoculated will boost vaccine confidence of residents.

Previously, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos received COVID-19 vaccines from China-made Sinovac.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News