Marikina in talks with 3 vaccine makers

Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said Wednesday the city government is currently in talks with at least three vaccine makers for advance purchase, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

In an interview over DZBB, Teodoro said the city government already signed a non-disclosure deal with a pharmaceutical company Friday (January 8), but there are plans to purchase coronavirus vaccines from other vaccine makers to give residents more option.  

“Hindi mo pwedeng pilitin [yung taong magpabakuna], karapatan nya yan at pati yung sinasabi nilang brand na gusto ng tao, kailangan igalang mo rin yan (You cannot force them to be inoculated.  That is their right.  And if they prefer a certain brand, we have to respect that),” Teodoro said.

“Dun sa survey na ginawa namin, yung mga tao gustong magpabakuna pero yung tiwala sa brand, dahil nga may mga naririnig silang impormasyon na mga reaksyon, o kaya doon sa mga nangyayari sa ibang brand, yung efficacy at safety nito, gusto nga namin diversified portfolio of vaccines. Yung may pwedeng pagpilian. Kaya nakikipag-usap kami sa mga dalawa o tatlong brand, para yung tao naman may pagpilian (According to a survey we conducted, a lot of our people want to get vaccinated but their trust on a brand depends on the information they get from from other people as well as its efficacy and safety. We want to have a diversified portfolio of vaccines. So they can freely choose. So we’re currently talking to about two or three brands),” Teodoro added.

Teodoro also assured that the local government is already preparing to expand its cold storage facility that will be used to store COVID-19 vaccines. The facility is located at the City Health Office in Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina. 

“Naghahanda kami ng storage kasi kung iba-ibang bakuna yung makukuha ng city, iba-ibang storage requirements pala ang kailangan. Dapat pala uninterrupted power supply ito, hindi pwedeng mawawalan ka ng kuryente (We’re preparing our storage facility because vaccines differ in storage requirements.  It needs uninterrupted power supply),” Teodoro shared. 

The city intends to inoculate 120,000 out of 450,000 residents.  Medical frontlines, senior citizens, high risk individuals, disadvantageous groups, and low income workers will be prioritized.