Walk-ins for the coronavirus disease 2019 Covid-19) vaccination are now allowed provided that minimum public health protocols are observed, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Wednesday.
This was after Manila Mayor Isko Moreno allowed walk-ins to get the jab due to low turnout of people in four vaccination sites in the city since the policy of limiting the giving of vaccine shots to those who registered for the vaccination.
“DILG Secretary Eduardo Año encourages local chief executives to develop strategies to ramp up vaccination. Hence, any strategy done without offending our established health and vaccination protocols is welcome,” DILG Assistant Secretary Odilon Pasaraba said during a virtual briefing.
Data from the Manila Public Information Office showed that only 4,402 individuals got inoculated prior to allowing walk-ins last June 21.
An additional 7,347 people got the jab, making the total number of people who got their jabs that day to 11,749. This was after Moreno allowed walk-ins to get a vaccine by 4:30 pm on the same day.
The Philippines has around 12 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines; eight million doses have been given to individuals of which 2.6 million have already completed the two doses required.
The government is planning to vaccinate 58 million people or 70% of the population in Metro Manila, as well as its nearby provinces, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao altogether to achieve herd immunity. Ronald Espartinez