Manila opens hotlines for Covid-19 vaccine queries

MANILA – The city government of Manila has established hotlines to answer queries on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine.

“Handa na po ang ating Manila COVID-19 Vaccine Action Center (MCVAC) para magbigay serbisyo at assistance tungkol sa inyong mga katanungan ukol sa ating Covid-19 vaccination program (Our Covid-19 Vaccine Action Center is now ready to assist and answer your questions about the Covid-19 vaccination program),” said Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso in his social media post on Tuesday.

City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan said the creation of the action center is in line with the local government’s free vaccination plan that targets to inoculate about a million residents, as well as non-residents who work in the city.

He said through the hotline, the public will be given guidance on the steps to be followed in order to be vaccinated up to the post-vaccination process.

“An Emergency Response Team which consists of a doctor and an ambulance complete with medical emergency kits will be on standby in case there are any adverse events following immunization. If the need arises, an individual will then be sent to the nearest hospital in Manila,” Pangan said.

Domagoso said that the public may call MCVAC through 0927-351-0849, 0915-703-0621, 0968-572-1975, and 0961-020-2655.

Meanwhile, 18 vaccination sites mostly located in public schools spread in the city’s six districts have already been identified by the city government.

The MHD will assign three medical teams to each site who will vaccinate around 1,000 individuals per day, which translates to a total of 126,000 individuals in a week.

Free swab tests for cinema workers

The city has also offered free swab tests for cinema workers after the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) earlier said they will allow cinemas, theme parks, and museums to reopen in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ).

“Hindi ko bubuksan ang cinema hangga’t di nate-test ang workers (I will not open the cinemas until all the workers have been tested), “Domagoso said in a meeting with mall managers in Manila.

Domagoso said this is to appease those who will soon return to work in the said sectors, as well as for the welfare of the community.

He said janitors, security guards, tellers, ushers, porters, ticket tellers, and snack bar attendants should undergo the free swab tests from the MHD.

Moreover, Domagoso also asked mall managers to present their preparation plans for the reopening of cinemas in compliance with the national government’s health protocols.

In response, managers of SM malls in the city said they will implement a two-seat-apart arrangement while Robinsons Malls will have a one-seat-apart arrangement.

Lucky Chinatown managers, meanwhile, said they would only open two of their four cinemas.

All cinemas will implement A “No Face Mask, No Face Shield, No Entry” policy.