Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie "Wes" Gatchalian announced Wednesday, Sept. 14, that the Covid-19 vaccinations including booster shots in the city will soon be held in different barangays to encourage more residents to get inoculated against the virus.
“Kahit na mas maluwag ngayon ang ating patakaran, hinihikayat ko parin ang ating mga kababayan na magpa-booster na. Mas ilalapit na natin ngayon ang bakunahan sa inyong mga barangay at hindi na po sa mga paaralan gagawin ito (Although our policy is more relaxed now, I still encourage our people to get their booster shots. We will now move vaccinations closer to your barangays and not schools),” Gatchalian said in a video posted on the city government's Facebook page on Wednesday.
This is in line with the mayor’s approval of City Ordinance No. 1049, Series of 2022 on Wednesday, Sept. 13, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order (EO) No. 3 released on Sept. 12 that allows the voluntary use of face masks in non-crowded and well-ventilated outdoor settings or open spaces.
The city earlier held the vaccinations in different schools prior to the resumption of face-to-face classes in the city.
Under the city ordinance, face masks shall continue to be worn in indoor public and private establishments, public transportation, and outdoor settings where physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Gatchalian also encouraged the non-fully vaccinated, senior citizens, and immunocompromised residents to continue wearing their face masks.
He said the schedule of vaccinations in selected Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo (3S) Centers in the barangays will be announced on the city’s Facebook page.
Currently, Covid-19 vaccinations are conducted daily (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) in four venues in the city, namely Lawang Bato National Highschool (all ages); 3S Center Malanday Covered Court (all ages); Tanada Covered Court in Brgy. Gen. T. De Leon (teens and adults); and Malinta Elementary School (kids).
The city government announced that Covid-19 vaccinations will also be held at the Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish Multi-purpose Hall in Brgy. Maysan on Sept. 18; Felo 1 Covered Court, Brgy. Rincon on Sept. 19; and 3S Center Day Care in Barangay Paso de Blas.
As of Sept. 14, the city listed 215 active cases out of its 46,036 cumulative confirmed cases with 959 deaths and 44,862 recoveries.