Inoculation of vulnerable sectors to lower hospitalization rates

MANILA – Prioritizing the most vulnerable sectors, the A2 (elderly) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) groups, will reduce hospitalization rate and secure gradual economic recovery amid the pandemic, Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said Thursday.

The city targets to vaccinate 650,000 residents – 400,000 of which have already signed up.

Some 35,000 residents have been inoculated, so far. The Taguig vaccination bus brings recipients, especially senior citizens, to the sites.

“If we protect A2 and A3 pwede na ho magbukas ang ekonomiya (the economy can open up) because our hospitalization will go down,” Cayetano said during a press briefing at the Lakeshore vaccination hub.

However, Cayetano said they want to eliminate vaccine hesitancy, a bigger problem than brand preference.

To cope with the hesitancy issues, Cayetano said community and religious leaders help convince the residents to avail of vaccines.

“We want to make our vaccination safe, fast, comfortable and we will take care of the vaccines that will be administered to you,” he said. “But we constantly try to earn the trust of our citizens – whether that is Pfizer, Gamaleya, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac – the City of Taguig has proof that we can administer it swiftly and safely.”

More vaccination sites will be opened, according to Cayetano, but taking cue from the Department of Health, “we are advised to prioritize the health workers.”