The Pasay City government has partnered with private firms to hasten the city’s vaccination program and help the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte achieve its target herd immunity before the end of the year.
Mayor Imelda Rubiano said city officials were now coordinating with big Pasay-based private companies planning to implement their own vaccination programs for their employees.
“This is to fast track the vaccination program of the national government as well as raise the trust level of the majority of the population on the importance of being inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines,” said Rubiano.
Some of the big private firms interested in the program include the Resorts World Manila and LBC Courier Service, and major local airlines such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air.
Rubiano said other firms had manifested their intention of implementing their respective vaccination programs for their employees.
“I’m glad because it’s a big thing if these big companies vaccinate their employees because it will accelerate our desire to vaccinate more citizens and will increase the level of people’s confidence in vaccines at the same time,” the city chief executive said.
Based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Health, private companies that wish to inoculate their employees must comply with all the requirements and submit them to the local health office for verification and actual inspection.
Some of the items needed to be checked by the city health office are location and actual space of the planned vaccination site as well as equipment needed during the inoculation.
“After completing these requirements, we will expedite the processing of the documents so they can start their vaccination program once the vaccines arrive,” said Rubiano.
“On our part, the local government provides them with all the necessary assistance and technical support to ensure the success and orderliness of their vaccinations,” she added.
Rubiano earlier said there would be no “VIP treatment” for anyone in the city’s vaccination program against the coronavirus disease.
She said the local government would closely watch the process so that the list of prioritization for the inoculation campaign would be strictly followed.
