Health workers in 4 NCR hospitals are on top of COVID-19 vaccination list

MANILA — Health workers in 4 hospitals in Metro Manila will be prioritized in the distribution of COVID-19 shots, the first batch of which is expected to arrive in the Philippines this month, an official leading the inoculation drive said on Wednesday. 

These 4 referral hospitals, which tend to patients with COVID-19, include the following, said vaccine czar Carlito Galvez. 

• Philippine General Hospital in Manila 
• Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City 
• East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City 
• Dr. Jose Natalio Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Caloocan City 

The inoculation in these hospitals will start right after coronavirus shots are inspected, which would take 2 to 3 days, said Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

Other COVID-19 referral hospitals in Metro Manila, Cebu City and Davao City will go next in the vaccination drive, he said in a public briefing. 

This Philippines will get least 5.6 million coronavirus jabs in the first quarter of the year from the COVAX Facility, a global initiative that aims to ensure equitable access to the vaccines. These will include an initial 117,000 doses from US-based Pfizer, said Galvez. 

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"Puwede po itong madagdagan kapag po tayo ay sumulat before Feb. 14," he said. 

(This might increase if we write to them before Feb. 14.) 

The Philippines has also signed 5 term sheets for a total of 108 million vaccines doses, Galvez said. 

"Inihanda na po namin ang ating supply agreements at kontrata para sa mga bakunang ito. Inaasahan po namin na ma-finalize sa loob ng buwan na ito," said the official. 

(We have prepared our supply agreements and contracts for these vaccines. We expect to finalize them this month.) 

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