Manila holds ‘symbolic’ vaccination for OFWs, employees

THE Manila City government kicked off its “symbolic” vaccination program against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and its employees on Labor Day at the Palacio de Manila on Saturday.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led the program “Resbakunahan sa Araw ng Paggawa” early Saturday morning. Also present were Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Isidro Lapeña, Assistant Director Ma. Paz Corrales of the Department of Health Metro Manila Center for Health Development and Philippine Overseas Employment Administrator Hans Cacdac.

Bello said, about 3,000 OFWs and 2,000 local government employees will be vaccinated. They are both part of the Priority Group A4 or the frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel.

“‘Wag niyo pong iwasan ang bakuna, ito ang pinakamabisang paraan para labanan ang Covid (Don’t avoid vaccination. This is the most effective way to fight Covid),” Bello said.

Manila received 8,400 doses of Sinovac last Thursday.

As of Friday, Manila logged 257 new Covid-19 infections, bringing the total number of active cases to 2,786. Total number of recoveries reached 53, 835 after 315 more survived. Meanwhile, the death toll  is now at 1,101 with two new fatalities. Manila has 57,722 confirmed Covid-19 cases.