1,500 queue for 900 Pfizer jabs at Manila vaccine site

Hundreds of Manila residents showed up early in the morning at a hotel in Ermita on Tuesday in the hopes of receiving a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez's report on "24 Oras," around 1,500 lined up at the Manila Prince Hotel vaccination site, where only 900 Pfizer jabs were available.

"Siyempre, excited. 'Yong iba nga as early as 7:30 dito na natulog, lalo na itong Pfizer marami talagang naghintay dito na tao. Nagkataon lang na very limited ang binigay nating allocation kasi kaunti lang din ang binigay ng Department of Health sa atin," Manila health department director Dr. Arnold Pangan said.

(They're excited, of course. Some people were here as early as 7:30 a.m., especially since so many people have waited for the Pfizer vaccine. It's just that we just have a limited allocation from the Department of Health.)

The slots for the Pfizer shot were all filled by 6 a.m. but some residents still opted to wait in line.

"Nagbabakasakali na kung may hindi nakapasa sa loob, kunwari high-blood, ibibigay daw po dito ang slot," one of the hopefuls said.

(Just in case there's a chance someone may not be qualified due to something like high blood pressure. They said they'll give the slot to someone else.)

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno urged residents to go to the 18 other vaccination sites in the city which offer Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine.

In Ramon Magsaysay High School, many doses of Sinovac vaccine have yet to be used. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News