Majority of Quezon City residents who applied for the QCitizen ID are willing to be inoculated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID) vaccine.

According to City Administrator Michael Alimurung, of the more than 44,000 applicants so far for the QC ID, 57.6 percent replied “yes” to the question “would you be willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19?” that was included in the application for the QC ID.

Only 9.1 percent applicants are reluctant to be inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine while 33.3 percent applicants are undecided.

“Many of those who refused to be injected are worried about the efficacy and safety of the vaccine while others have health issues such as allergies,” said Alimurung.

Of the undecided, most of them are having second thoughts about the side effects while others would base their final decision on what brand of vaccine would be used by the city government.

“Others said that they want to ensure the safety and effectivity of the vaccines before they decide on the matter,” said Alimurung.

The city government is scheduled to go down to the barangays for the manual application for the QC ID, where they will also ask residents about their view regarding the COVID-19 vaccines.

The city government has entered into a tripartite agreement with the AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals Philippines and the national government for the initial delivery of 1.1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The city is also coordinating with different pharmaceutical companies for additional doses of vaccines for its citizens. The city government assures its people that only vaccines which passed all standards and have complied with requirements from stringent regulatory authorities here and abroad will be purchased.

“We assure the QC public that we will buy only the safest and most effective vaccines,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

As part of the city’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Mayor Belmonte said the QCitizen ID will also be used to put together the priority list for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines.

“We would like to remind everyone to sign up for a QC ID via our online registration so they can avail of various health and social services such as vaccination, Q City Bus, and educational assistance,” said Belmonte.

Belmonte said online applications can be coursed through the city government’s E-Services portal where they must first create an account before they can apply for a QCitizen ID.

All residents can sign up, but for the purpose of putting together the vaccine priority list, the city government is encouraging residents 15 years old and above to register.

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