COMPANIES led by Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) have inoculated more employees after the arrival of a fresh batch of vaccines amid the Delta variant of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the group said.
In a statement, the so-called “MVP Group” said the new batch of vaccines prompted the opening of its fourth mega vaccination site in the National Capital Region (NCR) — the Makati headquarters of Smart Communications, Inc.
Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT, Inc. and Smart Communications president and chief executive officer, described the vaccines’ arrival as a ray of hope.
“I believe that the sooner we get these vaccinations done, the more lives we will be able to save, and the quicker we can revive our economy and recover as a nation,” he said.
The MVP Group’s vaccine task force, which is chaired by Mr. Pangilinan, said the latest batch of vaccines puts it on course for inoculating all its people.
It previously announced that it ordered vaccines from Moderna and AstraZeneca enough for more than 300,000 employees, dependents and household members, and the group’s extended work force.
The activation of Smart Tower as a vaccination site was made possible with the help of the City Government of Makati.
With forthcoming regional vaccinations, the conglomerate’s vaccine task force is looking at a network of over 30 locations for inoculations nationwide.
The first arrival of company-procured Moderna vaccines end-June 2021 allowed the MVP Group to begin vaccinations of non-medical employees at pilot NCR megasites on the first week of July. Vaccination rates for pilot sites reached as much as 1,350 jabs per day.
The vaccination sites are manned mainly by frontliners from the MVP Group’s own Metro Pacific Hospitals Holdings, Inc. (MPHHI), the country’s largest private hospital chain.
Up to 98% of frontliners from MPHHI’s largest hospitals were vaccinated as early as March 2021, including those from Smart Tower’s healthcare partner, Makati Medical Center.
