Gov’t forms task force for expected COVID-19 vaccine immunization program

MANILA, Philippines —  The government’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) task force has created a group to prepare for the immunization program of the expected COVID-19 vaccine.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has tasked the Department of Health to lead the group, its spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.

“The COVID-19 Immunization Program Management Organizational Structure will be under the National Task Force Against COVID-19 with the Department of Health (DOH) as its lead,” Roque said in a statement.

“The DOH has been directed to immediately convene the Task Group COVID-19 Immunization Management and establish sub-task groups as necessary. The creation of a Task Force is to ensure the successful and efficient deployment of COVID-19 vaccines to [the] target population,” he added.

Earlier, Roque assured the government was already preparing for the importation and transportation of the expected COVID-19 vaccine.

This includes the cold storage facilities needed to preserve the vaccines.

The DOH has allocated P2.5 billion for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

Lawmakers already committed to increasing the budget as the agency admitted it will not be enough to cover the 20 million Filipinos who were assured of vaccination by President Rodrigo Duterte.

/MUF