San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) employee doctors and nurses have helped administer over 55,000 COVID-19 vaccination shots throughout Metro Manila, as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to help in the government’s vaccination rollout.
From 19 doctors and nurses deployed initially last April 26, the company has now activated and deployed over 100 healthcare personnel to 11 vaccination sites, including the Mandaluyong City Hall, Pedro P. Cruz Elementary School, Isaac Lopez Integrated School, Andres Bonifacio Integrated School, and Hulo Elementary School in Mandaluyong City; Potrero Elementary School, Malabon Elementary School, Ninoy Aquino Elementary School, and Epifanio Delos Santos Elementary School in Malabon, and Pinyahan Elementary School, and Ateneo de Manila Grade School, in Quezon City.
The 100 healthcare personnel are part of 300 medical professionals SMC is looking to hire to support the continuous and efficient implementation of government’s vaccination program and help implement the company’s own free vaccination program for its employees nationwide, when vaccines ordered by the private sector become available.
“Right now, apart from availability of vaccines, another issue that’s hindering the faster and wider rollout of government’s vaccination program–done through our local government units–is the shortage of medical personnel to administer the vaccines,” said SMC president Ramon S. Ang.
“One of the practical ways we thought we could help address this is by hiring medical professionals ourselves, providing them with good pay, benefits, and deploying them for free to our understaffed LGUs,” he added.
Ang said that the company is set to field medical professionals in the City of Manila next, with ten doctors and nurses initially set to be deployed.
Earlier this year, SMC became among the first companies to commit to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to its estimated 70,000 employees and extended workforce. The company will also provide access to vaccines to their families and referred individuals to widen its reach.
