BPO employees in Quezon City get COVID-19 vaccines

MANILA, Philippines — At least 5,500 business process outsourcing (BPO) employees in Quezon City will receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, the local government announced yesterday.

“We have signed an agreement with the companies to facilitate the vaccination of their employees. We are happy to start the inoculation given the fresh supply of vaccines we received from the national government,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said in a statement.

The city government signed agreements with the Contact Center Association of the Philippines, Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines last May.

Under the agreement, the companies will provide their own medical teams to inoculate their employees while the vaccines will be supplied by the local government.

The medical teams will also help vaccinate other priority individuals who registered through the QC vaccination website.

Business Permits and Licensing Department head Margie Santos said the first round of vaccinations was held at the SM City North EDSA Skydome on July 21 and would continue until Aug. 3.

A total of 5,500 BPO employees and 3,000 residents are up for vaccination.

“We recognize the invaluable contribution of our workers from the BPO sector to boost our economy. They are among the essential frontliners in the city. There’s no reason to delay this service to them,” Santos said.

The city government targets to  inoculate over 67,000 workers in the BPO industry