Makati City has acquired one million doses of coronavirus vaccine developed by pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, Mayor Abigail Binay said Monday.
The mayor signed a tripartite agreement on Sunday with the British-Swedish biopharmaceutical company and the national government through the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
“We intend to vaccinate all Makatizens, including real property owners, business owners, and non-registered voters who reside in the city,” Binay said in a statement.
“We want them to be safe from the virus, and we are aiming for 100% vaccination in the city,” she added.
The city government has allotted P1 billion for the procurement of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines to ensure that all of its residents will be inoculated for free.
“One million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine assured for all Makatizens as well as non-resident property and business owners in Makati!,” Binay wrote in a Twitter post.
The mayor said the local government is finalizing a deal with other vaccine manufacturers.
“Makati will launch an information campaign, together with medical experts on infectious diseases and vaccination, to ensure that all doubts, concerns, and questions on the COVID-19 vaccine will be answered,” she said.
“Maniwala sa Siyensya; hindi sa haka-haka (Believe in science; not in speculations),” she added.
The mayor had earlier said that the local government is aiming for 100 percent vaccination in Makati.
“This is our number one priority for 2021. I want each and every Makatizen to receive both doses of the coronavirus vaccine for free to protect them and their families against the virus,” Binay said.
“We’ve seen the damage it can do both to human lives and our economy. After everything we’ve lost, we will do whatever it takes to protect our residents, employees, and our business community,” she added.