(Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / POOL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The government’s COVID-19 task force is set to meet Thursday to discuss areas that will be prioritized for the expected COVID-19 vaccine, Health Secretary Francsico Duque III said.
“This afternoon, the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases] will meet again and decide on which geographic areas need to be prioritized,” Duque said Thursday in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
A number of local government units (LGUs) earlier unveiled plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines.
LGUs have been allowed to secure supplies of COVID-19 vaccines via tripartite agreements with manufacturers and the national government.
The government, however, drew flak from some sectors over its supposedly uncoordinated vaccination plan, which Duque dismissed.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Screengrab from Kapihan sa Manila Bay video interview)
“This is really going to be a national government effort with the President’s approval of the LGUs supporting the national government. This is a complementary effort, this is not an uncoordinated effort,” Duque said.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the Philippines is eyeing to purchase 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year.