LRT-1 opens vaccination sites at Monumento, Balintawak stations

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) opened additional vaccination sites in LRT-1 stations. This is in line with the government’s effort to increase the number of vaccinated individuals as the National Capital Region (NCR) shifts to Alert Level 1 COVID-19 status. 

Getting vaccinated from COVID-19 is now more accessible

The new COVID-19 vaccinations sites in LRT-1 are located at Yamaha Monumento, and Balintawak stations. LRMC intends to continue the success it had on the previously launched vaccination sites at LRT-1 Baclaran and Central stations.    

The railway operator is targeting to vaccinate 300 individuals per week at Yamaha Monumento, and Balintawak stations. LRMC has teamed up with the Caloocan Health Department in its vaccination site at Yamaha Monumento station while it has partnered with the Quezon City Health Department for the Balintawak site.

“We understand that others are still facing barriers in traveling to vaccination sites. In the last installment of our vaccination drive, we are ensuring that transportation is not a barrier to vaccination. At LRMC, transportation will pave the way to vaccination, especially now that we are all set to serve more passengers under Alert Level 1,” LRMC Head of Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality Department Dr. Louernie F. De Sales said.  

The vaccination sites at Monumento and Balintawak LRT-1 stations will run this March

The LRT-1 Yamaha Monumento station vaccination site is said to run for the whole month of March. It is open from Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is accepting individuals for the first dose and booster jab. The available COVID-19 vaccine brands are Janssen and AstraZeneca.    

The LRT-1 Balintawak station vaccination site, on the other hand, will also run until the end of March. It is open every Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Available vaccines are AstraZeneca and Sinovac for the second dose and booster jab.   

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) are also determined to make COVID-19 vaccinations more accessible to the public. Last January, the two agencies launched the pilot mobile vaccination drive. 

MMDA mobile vaccination drive

The DOTr also previously said that it is looking to set up vaccination centers in strategic locations. DOTr Undersecretary for Administrative Service Artemio Tuazon Jr. shared that the agency is planning to have vaccination centers at airports, seaports, train stations, exit points of expressways, among other areas.

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