Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has created Task Force “Vax to Normal” to oversee the acquisition and distribution of a vaccine to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
She ordered the establishment of the Task Force ‘Vax to Normal:” The Quezon City COVID-19 Vaccine Plan composed of heads of various offices of the city government and representatives from private stakeholders as members.
“Now that there many possible vaccines with enormous potential against the virus, we should prepare actions for the immediate procurement and distribution of an approved vaccine,” she said.
“We are organizing early to ensure that the directions set by the national government will be followed, and that those who need the virus most are prioritized,” the mayor added.
The Department of Health earlier announced that COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers Janssen, AstraZeneca and Clover Biopharmaceuticals had passed the country’s ethics review board.
Belmonte said the task force is mandated to profile and mandate members of priority sectors for inoculation.
The city is now reviewing and finalizing the database of those in the priority list, she added.
The task force is also tasked to select and acquire the vaccine authorized for use in coordination with the national government based on effectiveness and practical considerations, such as the vaccine’s storage, handling, equipment, and training requirements.