Manila Zoo opens as COVID-19 vaccination site for minors, senior citizens

The newly rehabilitated Manila Zoo on Wednesday opened its gates for the inoculation of kids aged 12 to 17 and senior citizens against COVID-19.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said that at least 6,300 have registered as of 8 a.m. of January 19 on manilazoo.ph. At least 1,000 individuals would be accommodated per day in the area.

“‘Yung mga lolo’t lola ko, mga senior citizen, ang mga apo ninyo puwede niyo nang ipasyal dito tapos may bakuna pa. So, two birds with one stone so to say,” he said.

(Grandparents, senior citizens, you can take your grandchildren here for a walk and also get vaccinated. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.)

Moreno said family members of the children and elderly who have yet to be vaccinated could also get their jabs at Manila Zoo from vaccinators from the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila.

Those who will be inoculated must register via the ManilaCOVID19vaccine.ph.

“‘Yung ating kababayan sa lungsod, maraming choices. Meron silang health center, schools, malls, ‘yung ating drive-thru two-wheel sa Kartilya, tapos ‘yung 24/7 na booster caravan drive-thru sa Luneta, tapos ito sa Manila Zoo. They can choose kung saan sila konbiniente,” Moreno said.

(Our people in the city have many choices as to where to get vaccinated. They have health centers, schools, malls, the drive-thru [for] two-wheel [vehicles] in Kartilya ng Katipunan, our 24/7 booster caravan drive-thru in Luneta, and now here in Manila Zoo. They can choose where it is convenient for them.)

On November 3, 2021, the Philippines started the COVID-19 vaccination for all minors aged 12 to 17.

Meanwhile, the inoculation for the 5 to 11 age group is set to start in the first week of February, according to the Department of Health.

“Hinihikayat natin sila. Although meron nang mga nagparehistro about 7,000 na 5 to 11 na mga bata (about 7,000 kids aged 5 to 11 have already registered). We would like to encourage them to register in ManilaCOVID-19vaccine.ph because the City of Manila is ready already in vaccinating 5 to 11,” Moreno said.

At least 50 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine purchased by the government for the said age group are expected to arrive in the country by the end of January.

Manila Zoo is granting free entrance to the public for the whole month of January.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Moreno said Manila was able to vaccinate 23,676 persons on Monday, January 17 — the highest number since July last year.

According to Dr. Arnold Pangan, Manila Health Department director, the January 17 figure was the highest vaccination registered in the city since a total of 44,584 people got the jab on July 31, 2021.

Moreno said the record high vaccination was partly due to the opening of more drive-thru inoculation sites in the city that include the Kartilya ng Katipunan for motorcycle drivers and couriers; the Quirino Grandstand drive-thru for 4-wheel vehicles; and the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila drive-thru for drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) including deliver vans.

Bexovid

Meanwhile, the Manila LGU is set to procure supplies of the anti-viral pill Bexovid, which is the generic and more affordable version of Pfizer's anti-COVID-19 Paxlovid.

Moreno said the city’s application for a compassionate special permit (CSP) was already granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

He said this would allow the local government to procure Bexovid.

“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kaibigan sa FDA at kanilang inaksyunan ng mabilis ang ating application. Hindi natin basta-basta magagamit ang mga gamot na ito sa COVID kung wala tayong CSP. With the agency’s approval, pwede na natin maibigay sa mga pasyente kapagka dumating na ang ating advanced order,” Moreno said in a news release issued Wednesday.

(I thank the FDA for swiftly acting on our application. We cannot purchase or use this anti-COVID medicine if we don't have CSP. With the agency's approval, we can immediately give this to patients once the advance order arrives.)

Once available, the pill will also be available even for non-Manila residents, according to Moreno.

“Katulad ng ating ‘open door’ policy, matutulungan ng makabagong gamot na ito ang sinumang nangangailangan. Walang pulitika dito sapagkat buhay ang mahalaga," Moreno said.

(Just like our 'open door' policy, this will help anyone who needs it. This is not in any way related to politics.)

Moreno has said non-Manila residents can avail of anti-COVID drugs from the Manila Health Department as it has sufficient supplies of remdesivir, tocilizumab, baricitinib and molnupiravir, which are in demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Undersecretary and treatment czar Leopoldo Vega earlier said Bexovid would be given to patients who experience mild and moderate symptoms.

The FDA had granted the Department of Health's application for compassionate special permit for Bexovid. It would be distributed to government hospitals once it is supplied by Biocare Lifescience.

OCTA Research said Tuesday that Manila has recorded the lowest number of new COVID-19 infections on Monday since January 4, with its seven-day average of new COVID-19 infections decreasing by 7%.

The Department of Health reported on Tuesday 28,471 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the country's total case count to 3,270,758. —With a report from Anna Felicia Bajo/KG/KBK, GMA News