Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday lauded the government and private sector, particularly the country’s leading drug stores, for offering additional access to Covid-19 vaccines through “Resbakuna sa Botika” program.

“Nais naming magpasalamat sa DOH family through Secretary (Francisco) Duque (III) and Mercury Drug, private sector na nag participate talaga na maabot natin an gating mga kababayan sa lalong madaling panahon at silay mabigyan ng proteksyon (We would like to thank the DOH family through Secretary Duque and Mercury Drug, private sector that participated to really reach our countrymen as soon as possible and give them protection),” Domagoso said during the rollout of the “Resbakuna sa Botika” at the Mercury Drug Leon Guinto branch.

“This is good, convenient para sa ating mga kababayan whether booster ang kailangan nila, and hopefully, kami uulitin natin, nananawagan kami na yung mga hindi bakunado, maraming na kayong access sa bakuna (for our people whether they need booster shots, and hopefully, again we reiterate our appeal to the unvaccinated, you now have more access to vaccines),” he added.

He said the Resbakuna sa Botika will also boost city government’s vaccination campaign as Manila opened an additional vaccination site at the newly renovated Manila Zoo on Thursday.

“We’re very happy and excited, masaya kami na magkakaroon ng additional access ang tao with the recent vaccination site natin sa Manila Zoo, tuloy-tuloy yun, ngayon additional na naman na drugstores sa buong Maynila especially Mercury drugs at buong NCR at buong bansa (we’re happy that people will have additional access with the recent vaccination site at the Manila Zoo, now additional in the drugstores in Manila, especially Mercury drug in National Capital Region and entire country),” Domagoso said.

Meanwhile, Duque said the national government will supply all the partner drug stores with the Covid-19 vaccines, including the ancillary such as syringes, the training of people who will serve as vaccinators, and the guidelines on how to go about with the “Resbakuna sa Botika” program.

He said the program was launched as the country’s vaccine supplies stabilized late last year.

“Ang supply ng bakuna natin ay nag stabilize lang ng October ng nakaraang taon hindi katulad ng mga mayayamang bansa nung una pa marami na silang supply tayo ay nag antay pa kaya hindi natin kaagad mapalawig yung ating ‘Resbakuna Program’ (Our vaccine supply only stabilized last October unlike the rich countries that has enough vaccine supply since the start, we had to wait for the vaccines before we expand the ‘Resbakuna Program’),” Duque said.

“Ngayon atin ng ineexpand yung ating vaccination centers para mas maraming mga tao ang mapagsilbihan (Now, we are expanding our vaccination centers to serve more people),” he added.

Duque said the “Resbakuna sa Botika” will expand to a wider area in Metro Manila and nearby regions where the participating drug stores have branches.

“Pero kinakailangan pa rin me tamang sukat yung lugar kung saan isasagawa ang bakuna sa botika dahil hindi pwedeng maliit. Kailangan me sapat na espasyo para yung health and safety protocols ay napag iibayo pa rin habang nagbabakuna (But there should be enough space in the area where the vaccination will be held so that the health and safety protocols are properly observed while vaccination is ongoing),” he said.

He said the country has vaccinated about 72 percent of its targeted population nationwide.

“That’s about 58 to 59 million for the first dose, for the second dose we have about 56 million, 72 percent of the targeted population. So marami pa tayong kailangang habulin, meron pa tayong (so we still have a lot of catching up to do), 30 percent, more or less of the target population that we need to vaccinate and that is only 70 percent of the total population, you still have another 30 percent to be able to vaccinate a great majority of our people,” Duque said.

Duque also encouraged Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta who previously admitted that she chose not to get the Covid-19 jab because of age and health reasons.

“Dapat siguro ay maging mas bukas ang pagiisip ni Acosta, suportahan niya ang bakuna dahil bilyon na ang taong nabakunahan at marami na tayong nasalbang buhay dahilsa bakuna (Maybe Acosta should have a more open mind, and support the vaccine because billions have been vaccinated and many lives have been saved because of the vaccine),” he said.

Duque renewed his appeal to the unvaccinated to get the life-saving shots as he assured that all Covid-19 vaccines are safe and efficacious. (PNA)