The Makati City government on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 11) announced that it will launch a community vaccination drive against flu and pneumonia on Aug. 12, at Barangay Pembo at 8 a.m.
The Makati Health Department (MHD) said residents will receive trivalent flu shots that cover three strains of influenza -- influenza A or H1N1, influenza A or H3N2, and influenza B.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the program seeks to boost the immune system of residents and give them additional protection against the complications of COVID-19.
Earlier, the city government provided free flu and pneumonia shots to frontliners and essential workers. The city's immunization program, the mayor said, covers all the 9,706 city hall employees, but ordered the Health Department to prioritize city doctors, nurses, and health personnel.
By immunizing them against the two potentially deadly diseases of the respiratory system, Binay said the city aims to strengthen their resistance to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 infection.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier recommended the use of flu and pneumonia vaccines to prevent complications caused by COVID-19.
As of Aug. 10, the MHD has recorded a total of 2,529 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city, of which 1,078 are active cases.