SIMULATION exercises led by Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna themselves were held at the Universidad de Manila (UdM) yesterday, in preparation for the rollout of the Manila city government’s vaccination program.
Moreno also announced that non-Manilans may also register with the manilacovid19vaccine.com to avail of the free vaccines once they become available.
During the simulation, Moreno and Manila Health Department (MHD) chief Dr. Arnold Pangan explained the step-by-step processes that would be done once the vaccines finally arrive in the country and become ready to be administered to the citizens.
Moreno said the purpose of the simulation is to know exactly how to deploy the vaccines and all the possible scenario that might be involved as well as the hitches that may occur in the process and how they can be remedied.
“Gusto naming malaman ang mga posibleng scenario na pwede makapagpabagal, palpak or mishandling of products.. we simulate while waiting for the vaccines… para mapag-aralan ang future na pwede maging problema,” Moreno said.
The mayor also said they want to know exactly how effective is the technology they used, particularly the manilacovidvaccine.com, how it will be efficient for a pre-registered individual and the challenges of non-registered ones.
“We just want to get a feel of paano magiging mabilis maibakuna ang ligtas at sertipidado ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, how it goes later on, ano ang aasahan ng tao, gaano ba katagal, ano ang dapat nilang gawin, ano ang gagawin sa kanya pag nasa vaccination area,” Moreno said, adding that the real-time processes will reflect who administered the vaccine, the lot number and brand of vaccine used and when, since these are important details for the IDs that will be given to those who have been vaccinated.
For her part, Lacuna, herself a doctor, said the time in motion study is expected to determine the problems that may be encountered only in terms of a small population.
“Baka may second simulation pa na mas malaki. Average of six minutes ang isang pre-registered patient plus 30 minutes na mag-stay siya sa area for observation of any untoward effects,” Lacuna explained.
City officials and even directors of the city-run hospitals, among them Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center chief Dr. Ted Martin, were also present to observe and get a feel of the vaccination program, as they also submitted themselves to the processes involved.
Under the processes established by the city, the first step would be a check of one’s vital signs like blood pressure, temperature and pulse. From there, one would show his QR code if he is pre-registered and will be screened while his details will be verified for the ID system. A separate area had been assigned for those not registered.
From there, he will be vaccinated from where he will proceed to a designated area to observe for possible side effects.
Professional medical personnel and an ambulance will also be on standby for worst case scenario, although Moreno assures that the vaccines that will be used are the only ones that have been certified as safe and efficient by national health authorities.
