Makati City distributes P37.7 million worth of gift checks to fully vaccinated seniors

The Makati City government has distributed gift checks worth of P37,743,000 to its senior citizens fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay said a P1,000 gift check was distributed to at least 37,743 fully vaccinated senior citizens as part of the city’s initiatives to encourage the residents to get inoculated against the viral disease.

“The P1K-gift check incentive was one of the strategic measures taken by my administration to encourage the elderly to have themselves vaccinated as early as possible. Our efforts have been rewarded because we have surpassed the target vaccination rate for their age group," Binay said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Makati mayor underscored the importance of being fully vaccinated, especially the senior citizens who are among most at-risk groups for severe cases of COVID-19.

Binay also encouraged senior citizens to get their booster shots to have continuous protection against the viral disease.

"We are already giving booster shots for Makatizens who wish to avail of it. It would be best if our senior citizens have their booster shots in time for the holidays,” she said.

To date, Makati City has administered 932,606 doses, and has 429,656 fully vaccinated individuals.

Las Piñas resident wins house and lot in vaccine drive raffle

Meanwhile, Otelia Soriano, a resident from Barangay CAA in Las Piñas City, won a brand new house and lot worth of P1.5 million during the final draw of “May Bahay sa Bakuna" vaccine incentive program on Tuesday.

Two other residents also won brand new automatic motorcycles, while 10 residents received P5,000 worth of grocery goods. Gadgets including tablets and smartphones were also given away as minor prizes.

“For those who haven't been vaccinated, it's not too late… Hindi lang sarili ang mapo-proteksyunan natin kundi ang ating pamilya, komunidad at ang buong Las Piñas,” Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar said, adding that the local government continues its vaccination drive for the residents.

(We also need to protect our family and the community of Las Piñas.)

According to the latest vaccine data in the city, more than one million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered with 466,984 fully vaccinated individuals and some 529,000 have had their first dose.

“We have achieved more than 100% of our target population that is why we have some sort of herd immunity,” Villar said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that at least 23 highly urbanized cities, mostly in Metro Manila, have reached herd immunity against COVID-19.

As of December 6, around 38.7 million individuals have been fully inoculated against the respiratory disease, government data showed.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News