Around 1.13 million residents in northern Metro Manila are expected to be inoculated with AstraZeneca’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in the coming months after local chief executives signed contracts with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company.
Based on recent data, Quezon City will get the most number of vaccines for its 375,000 target beneficiaries.
The local government unit said it will prioritize its 10,000 health workers, 300,000 senior citizens, 20,000 adult persons with disabilities and other members of priority sectors, as recommended by the World Health Organization. An initial P1 billion has been allocated for the vaccine.
Valenzuela City comes in second, targeting to inoculate 320,000 residents or 70 percent of its total population.
In Caloocan City, some 300,000 residents will get the vaccine once supply becomes readily available. Mayor Oca Malapitan said the local government is ready to borrow an additional P1 billion to ensure that each resident will receive the vaccine for free.
Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta said the city will prioritize 90,000 individuals, particularly the medical frontliners, residents working outside the city and the elderly and students who are vulnerable to the disease.
Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said, about 50,000 of his constituents will already get the vaccine by June this year.