The SM Group on Thursday said it has intensified its vaccination drive as it has inoculated two-thirds of its work force.
SM ordered over 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines for its employees and for donation to the national government, in support of the concerted response to boost national recovery.
Apart from its own employees, SM’s shopping malls have also been hosting the vaccination program of various local government units. Its giga vaccination center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, with its cathedral-high ceiling and 8,000 square meters of floor space to allow for proper air flow, accommodates over 2,000 persons.
“With its commitment to promote safe and healthy communities, SM provides comfortable, convenient, safe and accessible vaccination venues all over the country,” the company said.
Around 1 million Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered in over 60 malls around the country.
SM malls have also launched the Vax, Shop and Dine rewards program to give incentives to the vaccinated. Several SM malls have also earned their safety seals from their respective local governments which affirm their compliance with public health standards set by the government.
“Doing the vaccination here in the malls is a good thing because the goal is to reach as many people as you can and we all know that Filipinos love to go to the malls,” said Khatrina, 36. She is into the second trimester of her pregnancy and was vaccinated at the Galleon in SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay.
Christie, who works as a cashier at SM Hypermarket at the Mall of Asia, received her first dose from the company last June 27 as soon as the Covid-19 vaccine doses arrived.
“We got vaccinated for the safety of our families, our colleagues at work and the people we deal with,” she said.
Jack Conrado Dones, who works as a bagger for SM Hypermarket, said he also feels safer after getting inoculated.
“There is a big benefit to getting vaccinated. I feel I can work better and my family is safe,” he said.