The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has agreed on Saturday to adopt the “Vax as One” scheme where local government units may inoculate each other’s residents to immediately augment the number of fully-vaccinated individuals in Metro Manila.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and MMC Chairman Benhur Abalos said the LGUs in National Capital Region (NCR) have been striving hard to provide their vaccination drive for priority groups.
“Ever since the start of the vaccination program, all local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila have been vaccinating medical frontliners up to all economic workers (non-residents) of their respective jurisdictions,” Abalos said.
According to the MMDA chief, the Metro Manila Mayors were prompted to allow the vaccination of non-residents as they are almost completely finished inoculating their own.
The region’s LGUs are also equipped enough with competent healthcare workers and quality vaccination sites which made the MMC further believe that they can manage to take the scheme in effect.
“Considering that each LGUs have established effective vaccination sites and highly trained manpower; further considering that some LGUs have almost hit their targets; they have decided to accept more non-residents in their vaccination operations. All would be by schedule, strictly no walk-ins allowed,” Abalos explained.
“Persons who will be vaccinated outside their LGUs must present a valid government-issued identification card during their schedule,” he added.
Abalos further elaborated that should the scheme be imposed, non-residents will be allowed to be inoculated provided that the LGUs almost reach their target population.
However, for the meantime, he urged LGUs to first prioritize non-residents from Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan, and Pateros.
The MMC with the National Task Force (NTF) expect that the scheme will reach at least half of the region’s target total percentage to achieve herd immunity.
“The Metro Manila mayors, together with National Task Force against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, are united in trying to hitting the target of 50% by the end of the month or early September,” Abalos asserted.
The concept to vaccinate as one will prioritize Metro Manila and eventually focus on its neighboring provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal.