Non-NCR residents caused long queues at Manila vaccination centers —PIO

The Manila Public Information Office (PIO) said many of the people who trooped to the vaccination sites in the city on Thursday were not residents of the National Capital Region.

Investigation conducted by the Manila Police District showed that the crowd came from Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal.

“They came in many groups, they came in many vans,” Manila PIO quoted one of the MPD investigators.

It further said that people went to the vaccination sites after receiving information that unvaccinated people will be banned outdoors during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine from August 6 to 20.

Based on the assessment of police personnel, volunteers, and mall personnel, the situation was manageable up until 2 a.m. when the droves of people arrived and removed the barricades.

According to the Manila PIO, most of them were not aware what a QR code is and that they have to register and secure a QR code to receive a COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Citing the police, the office said the number of people who went to the vaccination sites on Thursday was “unusually high.”

The crowd at SM San Lazaro vaccination site reached more than 10,000; at SM Manila, over 5,000; at Lucky Chinatown, over 3,000; at Robinsons Manila, over 4,000.

According to the office, the regular number of people in vaccination sites was around 1,000 to over 2,000 only.

The Manila PIO said they informed the crowd about the cut-off, contrary to the claim of some of the people who lined up in the vaccination sites.

Due to the surge of people, the city government decided to suspend the vaccination at SM Lazaro to ensure the safety and security of everybody.

Aside from Manila, long lines of people waiting for COVID-19 vaccination sites  to open were observed in Las Pinas and Antipolo.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos said he was informed that the crowds were due to the fake news  that unvaccinated people will not receive cash aid under the ECQ.

In a ceremonial event of the COVID-19 task force, Abalos slammed the perpetrators behind the misinformation after many people panicked and crowded to vaccination sites in the morning.—AOL, GMA News