Local government units can emulate the city of San Juan in terms of accelerating the vaccination of their constituents against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to a Palace official.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has praised San Juan local government for its swift vaccination drive, citing it has vaccinated more than 96,000 residents with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or more than 100 percent of its target population.
The local government of San Juan earlier set a vaccination goal of 85,400 people to reach herd immunity. It aims to complete the two-dose vaccination of the target population by August.
"Inaasahan po natin 'yung iba't iba pa nating mga lokal na pamahalaan, lalo na dito sa Metro Manila, na sumunod po sa yapak ng San Juan at magkakaroon din po sila ng komemorasyon ng 100 percent first vaccination (We expect other local government units, especially in Metro Manila, to follow the footsteps of San Juan and have a commemoration of its 100 percent first vaccination)," Roque said during a meeting with president Duterte and other government officials in charge of pandemic response Monday, July 12.
Roque informed the President about the "declaration of victory against COVID-19" in San Juan Monday following the milestone in the vaccination drive.
"Nagkaroon po tayo ng kauna-unahang pagwawagi laban sa COVID-19 dahil nagkaroon po tayo ng 100 percent first dose diyan sa San Juan. At inaasahan po ng mga San Juaneño na by August po ay maa-achieve na nila 'yung 100 percent full vaccinated individuals diyan po sa San Juan (We had our first win against COVID-19 because we had 100 percent in first dose distribution in San Juan. The people of San Juan aim to achieve 100 percent of fully vaccinated individuals by August)," he said.
READ: San Juan City surpasses target population to achieve herd immunity
San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora earlier reported that 96,610 residents and workers received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine since the inoculation program started last March. From this number, 29,313 already got their second dose.
Once all its target constituents have been fully vaccinated, Zamora has offered to continue the vaccination program for people living outside San Juan.
Metro Manila remains under general community quarantine with some restrictions until mid-July to stem the coronavirus outbreak.