Statement of Taguig City’s Vaccine Task Force on Vaccination-for-a-fee in some areas of Metro Manila

The Taguig City government strongly condemns the COVID-19 vaccination-for-a-fee in some areas in Metro Manila. It supports a probe into what the Philippine National Police has said were “under-the-table” transactions.

The city government reiterates every Filipino’s right to be inoculated for protection against the dreaded virus that has led to the loss of many lives in the country.

This is why the Taguig government continues with its round-the-clock free vaccination program for Taguigeños while strictly following the priority list set by the national government.

To better serve the Taguigeños, more intensified vaccination programs and pandemic response have been established. These are the SMART Testing, the recently launched Vaccination Bus, and 10 Vaccination facilities some of which are partnered with private corporations. Barangay Affairs Officers also help in the house-to-house vaccine registration.

Moreover, the city will also be launching this week the ‘hop-on, hop-off’ or point-to-point bus service that picks up vaccinees to their vaccination sites.

To date, we can administer 4,000 to 5,000 vaccination a day. Taguig City targets to finish fully vaccinating 650,000 eligible citizens and workers by December 2021.

Taguig City ensures that all brands of vaccines in the city’s extensively procured vaccine portfolio are available for free to all Taguigeños. As of May 23, a total of 68,719 Taguigeños who are part of the A1, A2, and A3 categories have been vaccinated. This translates to 10.57 percent of the total target population to be inoculated in the City of Taguig.

The local government also strictly follows the rules on A2 and A3 guidelines— Senior Citizen, Person with comorbidities, and must have a residence in Taguig City.

We urge the public to report anyone who charges a fee for vaccine shots or slots to the Taguig Vaccination Hotlines at *09617044001* from 6am to 10pm.

These are heartless individuals, plain and simple. The Taguig City Vaccine Task Force will file charges against anyone who solicits money or any favors for registration or scheduling. They will be prosecuted and will face the full wrath of the law.

We repeat, it is every Filipino’s right to be protected against COVID-19 — no one can take away that right.