Makati buys 42 freezers for COVID-19 vaccines

Makati Mayor Abby Binay today said the city government has procured 42 biomedical refrigerators and laboratory freezers to ensure proper and safe storage of COVID-19 vaccines.

“As we wait for the vaccines to arrive, the city government is preparing the vaccination sites, vaccine depots, and other logistic needs for cold chain management. I assure everyone that we are doing our best to achieve a 100 percent vaccination rate in Makati,” she said. 

Mayor Abby said the vaccine refrigerators and freezers will be housed in a vaccine depot being built at the City Hall quadrangle.

The Makati Health Department (MHD) targets to finish the preparation of the site next week, she said.

Mayor Abby led the inspection of the city’s COVID-19 vaccination simulation exercise last Thursday at the Makati Coliseum. 

Residents and non-residents who work in Makati who will be vaccinated will undergo online registration, counseling, screening, vaccination, and post-vaccination monitoring. 

She said the Makati Coliseum will cater to the first batch of medical frontliners (public and private) and uniformed personnel who will be inoculated once the vaccines are available. 

Apart from the Makati Coliseum, Mayor Abby said the MHD has identified 31 vaccination sites, including 24 public schools (divided into four zones), six villages, and the Ospital ng Makati. 

The other four vaccine depots are located at East Rembo Elementary School (Zone 1), Makati High School (Zone 2), Nicanor Garcia ES (Zone 3), and Pio del Pilar ES Main (Zone 4).

Zone 1 will be the source of vaccine supply for those living near the Cembo ES, South Cembo ES, Comembo ES, East Rembo ES, Fort Bonifacio ES, Rizal ES, and West Rembo ES, while Zone 2 will accommodate those near Nemesio Yabut ES, Guadalupe Viejo ES, San Jose ES, Pitogo ES, Makati HS, and Pio del Pilar HS.

Zone 3 will serve those near the Nicanor Garcia ES, La Paz ES, Jose Magsaysay ES, F. Benitez III ES, and F. Benitez III Main ES, while Zone 4 will cater to those near the Bangkal Main ES, Palanan ES, Pio del Pilar ES I, Pio del Pilar ES Main, San Antonio ES, and San Isidro National HS. 

The mayor urged Makatizens to take full advantage of the city’s free vaccination because it is scientifically proven to be effective against COVID-19.

She also said the city will launch an online registration portal in the coming weeks to determine the number of vaccines needed.

Earlier, Mayor Abby said the city has allotted P1 billion for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for residents, non-resident workers, and business owners. Makati has already purchased one million doses from British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and is currently negotiating with other pharmaceutical companies.