Manila opens 1st drive-thru vaccination site

MANILA – The city of Manila opened on Saturday its 27th vaccination hub and first drive-thru site at the Quirino Grandstand.

As with the other vaccination centers in the city, the drive-thru site will accommodate even non-Manila residents but by schedule.

All other inoculation sites in the capital city are on first come, first served basis.

Only four individuals per vehicle will be vaccinated.

Four hundred slots are initially allotted but as many as 1,200 may be vaccinated daily in the coming days.

After the vehicle gets past the screening stage, the entire process takes about five to seven minutes, depending on the number of vaccinees.

Another 15 minutes are spent in the post-vaccination monitoring area.

Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, a medical doctor, administered some of the Covid-19 jabs.

Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” was also joined in the launch by Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Benhur Abalos, National Task Force Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vince Dizon, and Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan.

“Ito ‘yung dagdag nating approach para dito sa iniingatan natin na Delta (This is an additional approach against the dreaded Delta variant). So we will continue to innovate and adapt to our approach in our mass vaccination. This is the 27th site of our mass vaccination and this is going to be regular,” Domagoso said in an interview.

“Susundin lang natin yung mga alituntuning ipinatutupad ng DOH. Kailangan lang registered, tapos wag kang pupunta kapag hindi ka naka-reserve or you got the slot kasi may appropriate slot lang (We will follow the guidelines being implemented by the DOH. You just need to be registered. Do not come here if you have not reserved a slot because we only have appropriate slots),” he added.

Vaccination will continue even if the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is in effect from August 6 to 20.

Aside from the authorized persons outside residence (APOR), those who will go to vaccination centers will be allowed out. Villages will re-implement the use of quarantine passes.

Abalos reminded that under ECQ, people must stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary to go out.

“ECQ kasi usually bawal ng lumabas eh so it goes without saying that halos 24 hours na hindi pwede, except kung APOR ka, bibili ka ng basic needs (During ECQ, people cannot go out so it goes without saying that it’s almost 24 hours that you cannot go out except if you’re an APOR or to buy basic needs),” Abalos said.