Top officials of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 visited Friday, April 16, a newly-opened mega vaccination hub located at a mall in Taguig City, which was established to boost the city government's inoculation program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and NTF chief implementer, led the inspection of the mega vaccination hub at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig. It is the first vaccination hub in BGC and the seventh vaccination site in the city.
Galvez was joined by testing czar and NTF deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon, Senator Pia Cayetano, and other members of the task force during the activity, which also included a briefer on the city's best practices in the vaccine rollout.
Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano said the vaccination hub, which was launched last Wednesday, can accommodate 500 to 1,000 individuals per day.
He said the opening of the facility will complement the existing two mega vaccination sites at the Lakeshore area and Vista Mall Parking Building, as well as the four community vaccine centers at Ricardo P. Cruz Elementary School, Maharlika Elementary School, EM's Signal Village Elementary School, and Western Bicutan National High School.
The city government has also operationalized its first COVID-19 vaccination bus, which will cater to individuals who are unable to go to the vaccination centers.
Cayetano said they are prioritizing the inoculation of their vulnerable sectors since "there are high chances that they will experience severe symptoms" once they get infected.
He added that seven malls have already agreed to partner with the Taguig local government unit (LGU) for the establishment of more vaccination centers in the city.
The mayor said the city will keep the vaccination hubs open even on weekends and holidays to facilitate the inoculation and immunization of residents "since the virus still infects whenever and wherever."