THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) started on Wednesday the vaccination of its employees who are medical frontliners, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities to protect them from the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The MMDA targets to inoculate 200 personnel today belonging to the A1, A2, and A3 on the priority of IATF with their initial dose of the Sinovac COVID19 vaccines.
“We shall follow the priority list of the vaccination. Senior citizens and medical frontliners are first to be inoculated,” said MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos.
According to Abalos, the MMDA has recorded 771 positive COVID19 cases, 100 active cases while eight have already died. The agency has more than 8,000 employees.
“Medical frontliners, including doctors and nurses, have the highest exposure to COVID 19 and are the most at risk of contracting the disease,” said Abalos, citing that the MMDA sought the assistance of the Department of Health, to have its frontliners, particularly those assigned in the field, inoculated.
Since the COVID19 pandemic began, the MMDA played a wider role, assisting the government in curbing the spread of the disease on top of its mandates.
“The MMDA houses the One Hospital Command Center, we coordinate actions with the Metro Manila mayors and the national government,” said Abalos.
As part of its preparations for the vaccination rollout, the MMDA’s isolation facility was converted into a vaccination area.
The agency also continues to implement basic health protocols such as wearing of face shield and face masks, maintaining physical distancing, and checking of body temperatures. Marshalls are also in place at the building to make sure that all the health protocols are being followed.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, through the DOH has identified medical frontliners, senior citizens aged 60 and above, and individuals aged 18-59 with co-morbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and immunodeficiency state, as priority groups for the vaccination.
