Mayor Michael Rama on Monday said the city will bolster inoculation efforts for persons with disabilities (PWD) before the distribution of their financial assistance, in a bid to protect the sector against severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection.

In a press briefing, he said the city will implement the “Vaccination at Your Home” program for PWDs, a strategy that will bring vaccinators right at the doorsteps of the families with differently-abled members who are eligible for the cash assistance.

“The releasing of their (PWDs) financial aid will depend on whether all of them are vaccinated or not. However, the current thrust of the city and of the national government, of which President Rodrigo Duterte always stressed his intention that the Philippines must be emancipated from the challenges of coronavirus,” Rama said.

The mayor instructed Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, head of the Cebu City Health Department, to open more pop-up inoculation sites for PWDs who could go out of their house to get their Covid-19 vaccines.

He assured that all 12,000 PWDs in the city will receive their cash aid but stressed that the city government would prioritize those who are fully vaccinated, to be followed by those who are partially jabbed.

The last to get their financial aid will be those PWDs who are not inoculated either because they are bedridden or because they have a medical reason for not being administered with any of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Ibones advised the PWDs whose mobility are not impeded by any conditions to submit themselves for inoculation at any vaccination sites in the 80 barangays here.

The distribution of the PHP1,000 monthly aid for the differently-abled individuals here will start on December 11, but the city will start their inoculation on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rama announced that the city is suspending the use of cash card for the distribution of assistance to senior citizens to avoid crowding in automated teller machine (ATM) booths. (PNA)