COVID-19 drive-thru vaccination operation at Quirino Grandstand ends

The city government of Manila closed its 24/7 drive-through vaccination and swab testing operation at the Quirino Grandstand.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, some individuals rushed to the Quirino Grandstand to avail of the free COVID-19 jabs while they were still available.

“Simula siguro last three days nang malaman nilang magsasara itong drive-through, doon sila nagpuntahan,” said Manila MDRRMO official Jackie Ferrer.

(Starting maybe the last three days when they found out that the drive-through would close, they went here.)

“Nagmadali (kami) kasi nalaman lang namin today na last day na. Kasi ngayon lang may time na lumabas ng house at ngayon lang kami nag-decide na lumabas,” Rhona Co, an individual who availed of booster shots, said.

(We rushed here because we just found out today is the last day. This was the only time that we decided to leave our house.)

The city government rolled out its 24/7 drive-through vaccination and testing program in January this year to encourage the public to get inoculated against COVID-19.

It has administered almost 3.5 million vaccine doses.

“Mayroon pa rin open na vaccination. Mayroon tayong apat na malls dito sa Manila. Tapos sa 6th district may mga hospitals diyan na nagbibigay ng booster shots. Hindi lang booster pero ‘yung mga hindi pa nagpapabakuna ng first and second dose nila,” Ferrer stated.

(There are still open vaccination areas. We have four malls here in Manila. In the 6th district, there are hospitals there that provide booster shots. Not only boosters but also those who have not yet had their first and second vaccination doses.)

Aside from the vaccinations, swab testing would also be ended.

Meanwhile, health workers in Quezon City are taking the house-to-house approach to increase the number of people immunized against COVID-19

“Karamihan po sa mga pasyente natin akala po nila ang primary series ay sapat na. Pero in-encourage po ng Department of Health (DOH) na i-take pa rin po natin ang mga booster shots,” Jasper Ian Enoza, a public health nurse of DOH, said.

(Most of our patients think that the primary series is enough. But the Department of Health encourages us to have booster shots.)

Ronald Fontejon, one of those who received a booster shot, said “Sabi po sa barangay namin na mayroon daw po dito sa opisina… gusto ko na ho para mawala na ang agam-agam.”

(Officers in the barangay said there were vaccinations at our workplace. I want a booster so I won't have any worries.)

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they recently detected the Omicron subvariant BA.5 in two individuals from the same household in Central Luzon.

She noted that the possibility of local transmission of the Omicron BA.5 subvariant was very high.

The Philippines recorded 1,295 new COVID-19 cases from May 30 to June 5, 2022, a 1.4% lower tally than the cases reported the previous week, the DOH said Monday. — Mel Matthew Doctor/DVM, GMA News