The city government of Makati on Thursday launched a massive flu and pneumonia vaccination drive for residents as part of its measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease.
“We want to give our Makatizens added protection against the coronavirus. Giving everyone flu and pneumonia vaccines, especially the most vulnerable sectors, will improve their resistance to SARS-CoV-2 — the cause of COVID-19 infection,” Mayor Abigail Binay said.
For the first time, according to Binay, residents can sign up online to receive free vaccines. She said this will make the registration process more efficient for city healthcare service workers and keep person-to-person contact at a minimum.
Binay explained that Makati residents with Yellow and Blu Cards can use their smartphones or computers to go to the #ProudMakatizen website (proudmakatizen.com), select “Vaccination Registration”, and complete the easy to follow registration process.
Residents will be asked to enter their Yellow Card ID or Blu Card ID number for verification. Yellow Cardholders may register their declared dependents for vaccination as well. Once verified, residents will receive a message confirming their schedule.
“This is another first from Makati City,” said Binay of the online registration for the vaccines.
“We are implementing new strategies to ensure the unhampered delivery of healthcare services to over 500,000 Makatizens. This is part of our drive to innovate and set new benchmarks for the new normal,” the city chief executive also said.
The Department of Health has recommended flu and pneumonia vaccines to prevent the complications caused by COVID-19.
Makati health officials said residents will receive trivalent flu shots that cover three strains of influenza (influenza A or H1N1, influenza A or H3N2, and influenza B).
Earlier, 5,130 frontliners and essential workers in Makati City received flu vaccines. Pneumonia shots, on the other hand, have been scheduled for August this year.
Binay instructed the city health department to prioritize city doctors, nurses, and health personnel. Workers engaged in public safety, rescue, social welfare, sanitation, and other essential services will also be vaccinated.
The immunization program covers all 9,706 city hall employees. Besides the free vaccines, the city government has also been providing free vitamins, including Vitamin C and B-complex, to personnel who have been reporting for duty even during the enhanced community quarantine.