'Confident' A5 residents line up early for COVID-19 vaccination in Manila

Poor folk in Manila on Wednesday went to the city's vaccination centers early to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to Tina Panganiban-Perez's report on "24 Oras", Perlita Barrios went to an inoculation center in Manila before 6 a.m. but still found 612 people ahead of her in the queue for the A5 sector.

Barrios, who was also on the priority list for senior citizens, said she initially feared getting COVID-19 shots. Her mind changed after her neighbors got vaccinated.

"I don't want to get COVID-19. Our lives are already difficult and it could worsen if we get infected with the virus," Barrios said in Filipino.

Like Barrios, Aling Amelia and Jhanette Pialago also joined other indigents to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

At the Sta. Ana Elementary School, the city health officers initially allocated 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines but they had to add 200 more doses due to high demand.

A total of 74,000 doses from COVAX facility are being used in Manila for its local immunization program. —Consuelo Marquez/NB, GMA News