The Pateros municipal government will launch the “Resbakuna” booster vaccination program at Jollibee at McDonald’s outlets in the town.
Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III said the booster shot vaccination program with Jollibee will be launched on March 14.
People can get their booster shots at Jollibee in Pateros every Monday and Thursday. The vaccination at Jollibee will allow walk-ins but only for those without comorbidities.
The municipal government’s partnership with McDonald’s in administering booster shots will follow after one week.
Last March 8, Ponce led the launching of the “Resbakuna sa Botika” program at Watsons Pharmacy in Pateros where people can get their booster shots every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“The booster shot is very important. That is why I am encouraging everyone who has finished their primary series, or the first and second doses, to get their booster shot because this is an added protection for us as we are not finished with our battle with the Covid-19 virus,” said Ponce.
The mayor also explained how the vaccination is being done after people complained that they were sent home without getting vaccinated.
He said the problem is that one vial of the vaccine contains several doses. He said the vaccination team cannot discard any vaccine.
When afternoon comes and the number of people needed for one vial of the vaccine falls short, the vaccination will be canceled.
“This is why people get angry as they do not understand it. I apologize to you but we cannot waste any vaccine. If one vial contains six doses, this cannot be opened if the number of people present is only four,” he said.
He added, “If people think we are inefficient and have no system, that is not true.”
For those who are complaining why the municipal government does not vaccinate every Saturday, he said, the municipality had opened vaccination every Saturday many times in the past but only a few came.
Ponce said the municipal government’s daily expense at a vaccination site reaches up to P30,000 including manpower and electricity.
He said the municipal government shoulders the cost of maintenance and day-to-day operations of vaccination sites.