MANILA – The start of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout has begun in the Philippines, following the scheduled arrival today of 600,000 doses of CoronaVac vaccine by Chinese company Sinovac.
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), there will be a “symbolic vaccination” tomorrow, March 1, at some COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila.
The program will begin simultaneously at 9:00 am.
These include the UP-Philippine General Hospital where Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, and Food and Drug Administration director general Eric Domingo are expected to attend.
Other expected attendees of the program are MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Dr. Maria Paz Corrales, assistant regional director of DOH-NCR.
Based on the PIA advisory, PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi and PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario.
At the Lung Center of the Philippines, Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Dr. Corazon Flores, regional director of DOH-NCR.
While in Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center and Sanitarium (Tala) is expected to attend Testing czar Vince Dizon, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, MMDA chief of staff Michael Salalima, and Health Asec. Elmer Punzalan.
Aside from referral hospitals, the Veterans Memorial Medical Center program is also on schedule. This is where Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and DOH director Napoleon Arevalo.
Even at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, where Interior Usec expected attendees. Bernardo Florece, PNP chief Debold Sinas, and DOH director Aleli Annie Grace Sudiacal.
The program will be at 10:00 am at Victorio Luna Medical Center. Expected attendees include AFP chief of staff Cirilito Sobejana, Surgeon Gen. Nelson Pecache, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Dr. Corazon Flores, regional director of DOH-NCR.
The shipment of Chinese vaccine will arrive at Villamor Airbase at 5:00 this afternoon. President Rodrigo Duterte is among those expected to meet here.
After that, the vaccines will be taken to the DOH cold storage facility in Marikina City.
