The city government of Manila will start the deployment of the newly-arrived Pfizer coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for the A1 group (medical front-liners) starting Thursday.

In a Facebook live video on Wednesday, Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso said 7,020 doses of the American-made jabs were delivered at the Sta. Ana Hospital late Tuesday night.

Moreover, additional supplies of AstraZeneca and the Sinovac jabs were also delivered to the city earlier on Wednesday.

“Ang unang mangyayari bukas, Huwebes, meron tayong bakunahan ng Pfizer, ito ay magaganap sa Sta. Ana Hospital, 210 doses, bilang pagpapahalaga sa mga medical front-liners, ay sila muna ang ang babakunahan ng una at ikalawang araw katulad ng ginawa natin sa Gamaleya Sputnik V (What happens on Thursday, we will deploy Pfizer vaccine at the Sta. Ana Hospital, 210 doses, to recognize our medical front-liners, they will be the first ones to receive the vaccine for the first two days, like what we did with the Gamaleya Sputnik V),” Domagoso said.

He said only 210 doses of Pfizer jabs will be deployed on the first day only at the Sta. Ana Hospital, because of the sensitive handling requirement of these vaccines.

Domagoso said the district directors of the six district hospitals of the city will also be present on Thursday to observe and study the actual deployment to familiarize themselves once the Pfizer vaccines are rolled out in other hospitals.

Domagoso noted that he reminded the district directors to be extra cautious in handling Pfizer vaccines as he does not want to waste any vial as much as possible.

After two days, the Pfizer jabs will be rolled out for A2 (senior citizens) and A3 priority sectors (persons with comorbidities).

Meanwhile, the vaccination for the second dose of the AstraZeneca jabs for the A1, A2, and A3 groups that got their first dose on March 16 and March 18 will also be held on Thursday.

Domagoso said 1,120 individuals are set to receive their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Thursday at the Ospital ng Maynila.

AstraZeneca vaccine requires 8 to 12 weeks waiting time in between the two doses.

He said the city government received a total of 18,150 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Some 18 vaccination sites will also be opened starting at 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday for the inoculation of AstraZeneca vaccines to senior citizens that have not received yet their first dose.

The assigned vaccination sites dedicated for the A2 category only on Thursday are the following:

District 1: Emilio Jacinto Elementary School, Isabelo Delos Reyes Elementary School, Vicente Lim Elementary School

District 2: Pre. Sergio Osmena High School, Francisco Benitez Elementary School, Plaridel Elementary School

District 3: Andres Bonifacion Elementary School, Pedro Guevarra Elementray School, Juan Sumulong Elementray School

District 4: Ramon Magsaysay High School, General Malvar Elementary School, Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School

District 5: Rafael Palma Elementary School, Justo Lucban Elementary School, Aurora Quezon Elementary School

District 6: Jacinto Zamora Elementary School, Sta. Ana Elementary School, EARIST

Those who will go to the assigned vaccination sites need to present a printed waiver form or QR code for verification.

Vaccinees are also encouraged to bring their IDs and wear their face masks and face shields. (PNA)