MMDA says Metro Manila LGUs all set for COVID-19 vaccination rollout

All the mayors of the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region are ready to manage the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Wednesday.

In a statement, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the mayors met online with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Tuesday night.

Garcia said that the mayors and IATF chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. discussed plans for the vaccination program as the arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines draws near.

"Secretary Galvez assured that the initial batch of COVID-19 vaccines will arrive before the end of February. I think they can finalize it in the next few days,” Garcia said.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that more than 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be delivered for the start of the Philippine vaccination rollout in February.

These vaccine products are from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Sinovac.

According to Garcia, the vaccination program will focus on the region and on other cities such as Cebu and Davao, where business districts are located, to boost the economy.

In line with this, Garcia added that the National Task Force against COVID-19 will visit all LGUs in Metro Manila to check on their preparations and plan for the vaccination rollout.

“We all know that these vaccines are sensitive and will require proper handling and storage,” he said.

On Wednesday, the officials on government’s response to COVID-19 visited Taguig City to inspect its process for the vaccination. On Tuesday, they also visited Pasig City. —LBG, GMA News