OVER 35,000 employees and extended workforce of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will receive their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines in the next five weeks as the company fast-tracks its 'Ligtas Lahat' vaccination program, following the delivery of the first tranche of AstraZeneca vaccines, secured by the company last year via a tripartite agreement with the government.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang said the company had already delivered an initial 26,700 doses to various provinces where it operates. Vaccination on more Metro Manila-based employees commenced at the San Miguel Sports Complex in Pasig last July 27.

SMC has also accelerated its vaccination campaign in Isabela, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Laguna, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao and Cagayan de Oro until August 27.

'We are in a race against time to have all of our 70,000 employees fully vaccinated, and I firmly believe that we are on track to achieve micro herd immunity in our offices and facilities nationwide in a few months. Our goal is to work quickly, efficiently and safely to have everyone completely vaccinated and protected against Covid-19 and the emerging Delta variant, which is more transmissible, according to our health experts,'Ang said.

Ang said some 35,855 employees have signed up for their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, which SMC procured under its P1 billion 'Ligtas Lahat' program. Majority of the workers will get jabs at the San Miguel Sports Complex in Pasig City and the province of Cavite.