Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Department of Health-Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) Regional Director Gloria Balboa on Tuesday led the launching of the PinasLakas vaccination drive at Commonwealth Market.
DOH’s PinasLakas is a setting-based vaccination program that aims to vaccinate Filipinos and give booster shots to fully-vaccinated residents in a bid to strengthen the country’s wall of immunity.
Over 500 market vendors and nearby residents of Commonwealth Market received their primary and booster doses during the activity.
“Imbes na papuntahin sa ibang vaccination site, nilalapit na mismo natin ‘yung bakuna sa mga market vendor para hindi na nila kailangan pang iwanan ang kani-kanilang puwesto na pinagkukuhanan nila ng panggastos para sa kanilang pamilya,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Through the program, the city was also able to invite Muslim leaders to promote the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for their vaccine-hesitant brothers and sisters.
According to QC Task Force Vax to Normal Action Officer Dr. Maria Lourdes Eleria, the city already started the week-long vaccination drives in various markets and talipapas in QC.
“Buong linggo tayong magbabakuna sa ating mga palengke at talipapa. Paraan natin ito para mas maging accessible ang vaccines at marami pang mabakunahang residente,” Eleria said.
A week before the in-person classes, the city launched PinasLakas in schools and vaccinated QCitizen kids from 5 to 17 years old. The program has been ongoing in malls and is set to commence in public transportation terminals.
Further, the city continues to provide primary doses and booster shots in health centers and selected vaccination sites.
The PinasLakas vaccination drive aims to vaccinate 90 percent of the A2 priority group (senior citizens) with primary doses, and increase the booster coverage to 50 percent of the total adult population of the country by October 8, 2022, which also marks President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 100 days in office.
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