Andanar identifies 4 NCR referral hospitals for first tranche of vaccine rollout
By Susan G. De Leon
CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 12 (PIA) — Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar has identified the four Metro Manila referral hospitals set to receive the first tranche of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout for their healthcare staff and medical fronline workers.
“There were already four proposed referral hospitals in Metro Manila for the first tranche of inoculation. These are the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila, Lung Center of the Philippines and East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, and Dr. Jose Natalio Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (Tala Hospital) in Caloocan City,” Andanar said during the Pagdu-aw sa Butuan City: Explain, Explain, Explain Town Hall Meeting.
Around 56,000 medical frontliners and hospital staff in these referral hospitals will be the first in line to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with the 117,000 Pfizer doses that will be supplied through the COVAX facility and will arrive in the country by mid-February.
“As we move forward this 2021, the government is set to roll out the national COVID-19 vaccination program this month with an initial target of 56,000 healthcare workers in 4 referral hospitals in Metro Manila,” he said
“Next in line will be healthcare workers in other COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila, Cebu City, and Davao City,” he added.
The PCOO chief said the government will still prioritize health workers, senior citizens, and uniformed personnel for the vaccination.
Andanar added that the national government has already signed term sheets with five vaccine companies, which will assure delivery of up to 108 million doses this year.
“The government does not have any policy which favors a specific vaccine brand or country from which it originates. Through the signed term sheets with five pharmaceutical companies, we have ensured to receive up to 108 million doses this year,” he said.
The Pagdu-aw: Explain, Explain, Explain, an information drive led by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), aims to inform and explain to the public the processes undertaken by the national government to ensure safe and effective vaccines, and to raise the willingness of Filipinos to be vaccinated. (PIA NCR)
