Makati City announced its latest service for residents to help protect them against the coronavirus pandemic: free flu and pneumonia shots to boost their immune system.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay announced the citywide immunization program in a statement on Thursday, July 30, just a day after she said over 9,000 city government frontliners and essential workers will be getting flu and pneumonia vaccines too.

“We want to give our Makatizens added protection against the coronavirus. Giving everyone flu and pneumonia vaccines, especially the most vulnerable sectors, will improve their resistance to SARS-CoV-2 — the cause of COVID-19 infection,” said Binay.

To qualify for the vaccination program, a Makati resident has to either be a holder of the city’s Yellow health card or the Blue card for the senior citizens’ welfare program. 

They will have to register online through the website proudmakatizen.com to be included in the list of residents to be immunized. 

Binay said this is the first time a local government unit is pursuing an online registration process for a vaccination program.

“This is another first from Makati City. We are implementing new strategies to ensure the unhampered delivery of healthcare services to over 500,000 Makatizens. This is part of our drive to innovate and set new benchmarks for the new normal,” said Binay.

The country’s premiere business district has steadily been providing aid to its over 500,000 residents since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Philippines.

Aside from a large-scale immunization program, Makati earlier distributed P5,000 to every Makatizen and Yellow cardholder as part of the city’s economic relief program.

A total of 85,000 public school students will be getting free learning modules and internet load from the city government to prepare them for distance learning in the upcoming school year.

Some 2,500 public school teachers, meanwhile, are set to receive free laptops and internet load from the city hall as well.

Makati has so far logged a total of 2,002 cases of COVID-19, with 128 deaths and 939 recoveries. 

Nationwide, the total number of cases is at 85,486 as of Wednesday, July 29. – Rappler.com