Makati frontliners receive free flu vaccines 

Makati City has provided immunization programs to its healthcare employees and other frontline workers to boost their immune system while serving patients amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In a Facebook statement Wednesday, Mayor Abigal Binay said the local government has already provided free flu vaccines to some 5,130 front-liners and essential workers, including employees of the public safety, rescue, social welfare, sanitation offices, and other essential services in the city.

The city government targets to immunize some 9,706 city hall employees, Binay said.

She ordered the city health office to prioritize the doctors, nurses, and health personnel during the vaccination.

“By immunizing our front-liners and essential workforce against these two potentially deadly diseases of the respiratory system, we aim to strengthen their resistance to SARS-CoV-2 that causes Covid-19 infection,” she said, noting that the local government's health office is scheduled to administer a "pneumonia vaccine" for the front-liners by August.

Apart from the free vaccines, Binay said, the city government also provides free vitamins to the city's frontline workers.

The Department of Health (DOH) has earlier recommended flu and pneumonia vaccines to prevent additional complications from the dreaded coronavirus disease.

As of July 28, Makati City recorded a total of 1,957 positive cases.

Of the number, 918 are active cases, 913 have recovered and 126 died.

Makati has been testing health workers, suspected coronavirus patients, and other front-liners as part of the city's preventive measures and efforts to halt the spread of the disease within communities.

Binay, meanwhile, urged residents to stay home and avoid going outside if it's not necessary.