Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine today, April 08, at the Valenzuela City People’s Park Amphitheater. The City also continues its call for Valenzuelanos to register at www.valtrace.appcase.net to book for their COVID-19 vaccination as the VCVax team will now start vaccinating persons with comorbidities (A3) in the days to come.

With the National Capital Region (NCR) under the critical or high-risk area, mayors and governors are now classified under A1 or the first priority group to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, understanding that local chief executives are now considered essential frontliners as announced by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

“Matagal niyo na naririnig na lahat tayo maging bahagi ng solusyon laban sa COVID-19… Bilang indibidwal eto ‘yung contribution niyo sa paglaban sa COVID-19. Katulad ko… Ang ginamit ko na bakuna ay Sinovac, wala naman akong nararamdaman na hindi maganda. Normal na normal. So huwag tayong matakot,” Mayor REX Gatchalian shared after receiving his first dose of Sinovac.

“Basta FDA approved ang bakuna, it doesn’t matter which brand you use. Ang importante magpabakuna tayo,” Mayor REX added.

As of March 31, the number of eligible frontline health workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from the Department of Health (DOH) is at 4,571, with 3,886 individuals administered with the first dose accounting to 85%, and 49 individuals who have already completed the second dose of the vaccine.

As of today, the number of vaccinated individuals in the City nears the 4,000 mark. Vaccination is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City continues its localized targeted mass testing which started way back in March 2020. As of April 06, the City has now tested 10.14% of the projected 2020 population of 665,103, which is a total of 67,473 individuals tested. Majority of the RT-PCR tests are processed with the City’s homegrown Valenzuela Hope Molecular Laboratory.

Valenzuela City records 1,006 active COVID-19 cases as of April 07. Total of confirmed cases in the City are at 13,883 with 12,537 recoveries and 340 deaths.

Together with the city’s frontliners vaccinated today, Mayor REX also reminds everyone to register at www.valtrace.appcase.net, sharing the vision that receiving the vaccine is a start toward a safe community, “Ang panawagan ko sa inyo -- Huwag na tayo magalinlangan, magpabakuna na tayo. Para sa kaligtasan niyo ito, ng inyong pamilya, at ng sambayanang Valenzuelano.”