Selling of vaccine slots in San Juan, Mandaluyong denied

MANILA, Philippines — The mayors of Mandaluyong and San Juan yesterday refuted reports that COVID-19 vaccine slots are being sold in their cities.

Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita Abalos denied that COVID-19 vaccine slots are being sold for a price.

“Libre po ang lahat ng bakuna laban sa COVID-19 na ibinibigay sa lahat ng residente at hindi residente ng lungsod na nagtatrabaho sa Mandaluyong,” she said.

Abalos issued the statement after a netizen posted on Twitter that vaccine slots are being sold in Mandaluyong and San Juan.

The netizen, with Twitter handle @theninaellaine, posted a screenshot of a supposed conversation between two persons involving a transaction for COVID-19 jabs in exchange for cash.

One of the persons in the conversation, said to be a seller, claimed an individual can get a slot for two doses of Sinovac for P8,000 and up to P12,000 for other vaccine brands.

The unnamed seller said they have contacts from the city governments
of San Juan and Mandaluyong for reservation of vaccine slots.

Abalos said people who signed up through online registration
are the only ones up for vaccination.

She urged people with information about individuals who are asking
money in exchange for COVID-19 jabs to report them to authorities.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said they contacted the netizen who posted the alleged scheme to get more details about the person claiming to have access to the city’s vaccination program.

“Whoever is claiming to have contacts with the San Juan city hall selling our vaccine slots is propagating a scam,” Zamora said in a statement.

Vaccines are given to city residents and other qualified individuals for free, he said.

Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 patients at the Mandaluyong public hospital went down by 60 percent.

Jimmy Isidro, city public information officer, said 45 of the 75 COVID-19 beds at the Mandaluyong City Medical Center are occupied.

There are 486 active COVID-19 cases in Mandaluyong. The barangays with the most number of active cases are Highway Hills with 52; Pag-asa, 47, and Hulo, 36.