The Manila City Government is planning to extend the drive-thru booster shot for couriers, as hundreds of delivery workers on motorcycles and even bicycles flocked to the facility at the Bonifacio Shrine in the opening hours alone on Thursday.
“Pag ni-request nila, we will be happy to be of service,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said, upon seeing hundreds of drivers from Grab, Angkas, Lalamove, Shopee, Mr. Speedy, FoodPanda, and Lazada, among others, lining up patiently and orderly at the facility for free booster shots to better shield them from the deadly coronavirus, especially the Omicron variant.
“Masaya kami kasi nagpabakuna sila, naproteksyonan sila, naproteksyonan ang customer nila, naproteksyonan ang pamilya nila, tapos hindi nasayang ang araw ng kita. They still have the whole day to go around para mag hanapbuhay. Hindi nabalam ang hanapbuhay, protektado ang lahat, panatag ang lahat,” added Moreno.
The 47-year-old local chief executive noted that around 300 drivers were already waiting in line when the facility opened at 8 a.m. with many more arriving.
Data have also so far shown that seven out of 10 delivery drivers who availed of the free booster shots were non-Manilans.
“Maraming salamat sa pagtitiwala ninyo sa Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Maynila at pumunta kayo dito para magpabakuna at maproteksyonan ang bawat isa,” Moreno said to the non-Manila drivers.
“Dito naman, kapag gusto pa nila, one to sawa. As we go along, tignan natin, but be that as it may, tuloy-tuloy. Kung kelan sila convenient, yayakapin natin hanggat kaya natin,” said Moreno.
In the meantime, Moreno said the city government has approved the continuation of the booster shot night vaccination in Divisoria on Thursday night upon the request of drivers, vendor and delivery boys plying their trade in the area.
“Kagabi, 754 na driver, pahinante, tindera, kargador ang nabakunahan natin. Nagyon, nagre-request sila kasi yung ibang biyahero sa Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon na papunta ng Maynila, bagong set naman yon. Titirahin namin uli mamaya. Mamayang gabi, tira uli,” he said.
With cases rising exponentially due to the more transmissible Omicron variant, Moreno said it is imperative for the public to get their booster shots, or to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Magpabakuna po kayo, ito po ay magiging pandemya ng hindi bakunado. Kapag hindi ka bakunado, mas mataas ang porsyento na ma-infect ka. At pag na-infect ka na hindi ka bakunado, mas mataas ang risk,” he said.
“Mahalin ninyo ang inyong mga sarili, proteksyonan niniyo ang inyong mga sarili,” Moreno said.
The Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer also warned the public against fake news or politicians who are against vaccination.
“Huwag maniwala sa mga ‘marites’ at mga politiko na ayaw ng bakunahan. Maniwala po tayo sa mga scientists, sa World Health Organization (WHO), sa mga doctors, kasi ito ay health crisis,” he said.
“The only way to solve this is through science. Sa pamahalaan, at sa opisyal ng gobtyerno, sa opisyal na panawagan at alituntunin, yun ang dapat nating sundin,” Moreno said.