Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who already tested positive for COVID-19 twice, received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Monday.

“Today I joined the thousands of QCitizens who are now vaccinated against COVID-19,” Belmonte said in a statement.
Although part of the A1 category, the mayor said she waited for other individuals under priority lists to be inoculated first as she “did not see the need” to be vaccinated immediately compared to them.
Belmonte said she booked her vaccination appointment through the city’s EZConsult website so she “could observe the process” for herself and make suggestions “as to how this can be improved.”
“When I booked, EZConsult only had available slots at the vaccination site in Ateneo, and this is where I received my first dose of Sinovac at 1 p.m.,” she said.
“Dahil dalawang beses kong naranasang magka-COVID-19, batid ko ang kahalagahan ng bakuna upang maiwasan ang pagkakaroon ng malalang sakit na dulot ng virus (Because I experienced COVID-19, I know the importance of getting vaccinated to avoid severe symptoms)” she added, hoping that her inoculation could encourage more residents.