BAGUIO CITY - Mayor Benjamin Magalong announced that the city government has initially set a target of 190,000 individuals, who will be administered coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines.

This was after the city government entered into a deal with AstraZeneca for the purchase of its COVID-19 vaccines.
Magalong said the number of beneficiaries represents 70 percent of the city's target population for inoculation, and does not include those aged 17 years old and below.
He said, the 190,000 was the city’s projected number of qualified people aged 17 years old and above, who would be vaccinated based on the 370,000 estimated population of the city.
AstraZeneca is among the manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines for worldwide utilization.
The multipartite agreement was signed last January 10 by Magalong and representatives of Astra Zeneca, the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Task Force on Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases.
He said AstraZeneca initially planned to supply doses for only 50,000 persons for the city, but the company subsequently approved his request to increase the allocation to cover 70 percent of the target population, and enable the city to establish herd immunity against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Magalong said the city was also currently in talks with other international pharmaceutical companies for more vaccine provisions for the city's contingency reserve.
At the same time, engagements with global and local private companies and even civic-minded families and individuals in the city are moving for the acquisition of more vaccines free of charge.
He said the city has received commitments for a total of 33,000 doses from the private groups and companies, which include the local chapter of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and locators in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority in the city.
Magalong and the city council will work out the allocation of P100 million for the city's vaccination program.