The city government of Manila on Friday said it has enough cold storage facilities for different types of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines once these arrive in the country.

Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso unveiled the city’s new Covid-19 Vaccine Storage Facility located on the 7th Floor of the Sta. Ana Hospital during the visit of officials of the Coordinated Operations to Defeat Epidemic (CODE) Team headed by the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to the city.

The refrigeration units have already been deployed at the facility

“Immediately, as per the directive of the NTF, pag dumating ang bakuna dapat ready na kayo to deploy, and we are ready to deploy. We have enough to handle, ready kami (once the vaccine becomes available, we should be ready to deploy and we are ready to deploy, we are ready),” Domagoso said.

The refrigeration units prepared by the city government include five HYC-390 refrigerators for AstraZeneca and Sinovac vials, two -25° Celsius biomedical freezers, and two -30° Celsius biomedical freezers for Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vials.

The city government is expecting three more refrigeration units to arrive at the Sta. Ana Hospital — the -86° Celsius ULT (ultra-high temperature) freezers — which can store Pfizer vials.

Domagoso said the city is “above its capacity to deliver” in terms of Covid-19 vaccine handling, based on their assessment.

“At kung sakali lang, we can offer it to DOH or others, kung halimbawa kailangan nila ng storage para sa kanila o para sa ibang siyudad o para sa ibang ospital ng (In case, we can offer it to DOH or others, if for example, they need it or if other LGU’s need them or for other national government hospitals) located in Manila, we can accommodate them as a matter of assistance,” Domagoso said.

City government officials presented the Manila Covid-19 Vaccination Plan (MVP) to the CODE Team, including the activities being undertaken by the city, and other updates.

City Health Officer Dr. Arnold Pangan presented the Manila Covid-19 Situation Report where he discussed the city’s response efforts that include the deployment of 14 quarantine facilities, and the free swab test services for residents and workers, and the vaccination simulation exercises being done, among others.

Domagoso said the city plans to come up with 18 vaccination sites, mostly public schools situated in the communities.

He added that barangay officials, including the Sangguniang Kabataan, are now also being prepared and given orientations and lectures on Covid-19 vaccination.

The floor plans for inoculation sites were also presented as well as an emergency response plan that will be undertaken in case of adverse reactions after vaccination. (PNA)