In preparation for the possible arrival of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines this year, the Manila city government has launched a pre-registration website www.manilacovid19vaccine.com for those interested to receive the shots.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in his New Year’s message on Thursday said the city government is now preparing for the first quarter of 2021.

Domagoso said that once the vaccine becomes available, the medical and health front-liners as well as the senior citizens will be given priority based on the policies laid out by the World Health Organization, the Department of Health, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Magpa reserve na kayo ng inyong slot sapagkat ang pagbabakuna ay voluntary (Reserve your slot because the vaccination will be voluntary),” Domagoso said.

He said after all the priority sectors have been given the Covid-19 vaccine, those who have pre-registered and reserved their slots will be given the vaccine.

Domagoso said the city government of Manila has already signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the two leading pharmaceutical companies in the world, Pfizer and Astra Zeneca.

“Loobin nawa ng Diyos sa darating na araw, lingo at buwan, na tayo ay makapirma na ng advance marketing commitment contract to acquire and reserve para sa initial na 400,000 dosage para sa 200,000 na mamamayan ng lungsod ng Maynila (With the help of God, I hope that in the coming days, weeks or months, we will be able to sign an advance marketing commitment contract to acquire and reserved for the initial 400,000 dosages of vaccines for 200,000 residents of Manila),” he said.

Domagoso said the numbers are on top of the vaccine allotment by the national government.

He added that the deployment for the vaccination process of the city of Manila has already been prepared through the help of the Manila Health Department.

Meanwhile, Domagoso assured that the city government will only procure and use vaccines that have been approved by the government’s regulatory agencies to assure their safety and efficacy.

He said the Covid-19 vaccine will be administered to Manila residents for free. (PNA)