Hontiveros asks NTF to publicize vaccine priority list

Sen. Risa Hontiveros. Screen grab / Senate PRIB file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The National Taskforce on Covid-19 (NTF) should immediately publicize the list of people first in line for the Covid-19 vaccination in order to prevent confusion and speed up inoculation of Filipinos once supplies arrive, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday.

“Dapat ay maisapubliko na ng NTF ang ‘priority list’ sa vaccination para malaman na ng mga kababayan natin kung kasama sila sa mga unang mabibigyan ng  bakuna,” she said in a statement.

(The NTF should make public the “priority list” for vaccination so that Filipinos are made aware if they are among the first to be vaccinated.)

“Kailangan ng malaking information campaign para maiiwasan ang kalituhan at dayaan kapag dumating na ang mga supply ng bakuna sa bansa,” she added.

(We need a wide information campaign to prevent confusion and cheating once the supply of vaccines arrives in the country.)

The government is eyeing to begin the rollout of its vaccination program later this month.

“By now, it should be already clear which individuals would be prioritized for inoculation. Saan ba makikita ang tunay at updated na listahan mula sa NTF? Saan pupunta ang mga nasa priority list para magpabakuna?” Hontiveros went on.

(By now, it should be already clear which individuals would be prioritized for inoculation. Where can the public view the legitimate and updated list coming from the NTF?)

“Per individual basis or per household basis ba ang basehan ng mga kasama sa listahan? [Is the inclusion in the list a per individual basis or per household basis?] All of these should be clearly outlined to the public at this point,” she added.

The government has earlier identified healthcare workers, uniformed personnel, and indigent citizens as priority for vaccination.

The senator said the NTF should clarify which identification cards the “essential” workers need to present to prove their profession.

“The NTF told us in the Senate that among the essential workers to be prioritized for vaccination include health workers, teachers, social workers, as well as workers in the food industry, agriculture, and tourism. Any list of essential professions must not only be detailed, but also easily-understandable by the public,” she said.

“Kailangan ding linawin ng NTF kung paano matutukoy ang mga taong kasama diyan sa mga essential professions na nasa priority list. Ano-ano ang dapat ipakita ng mga tao— gaya ng company ID o lisensya — para mapatunayan ang kanilang propesyon? ” she added.

(The NTF should clarify how someone can be identified as among those included in the priority list as an essential worker. What should be presented—a company ID or a license—to prove their profession?)

Hontiveros said there is still time to make any necessary revisions to the list and clarifications to the public.

“It is important that government uses its time wisely by releasing the list immediately. Hindi tayo dapat mataranta na lang pag nakarating na ang mga vaccine. If we can smoothen out this masterlist para masigurado na tuloy-tuloy ang pagpapabakuna, I am sure we will achieve our vaccination goals,” she said.

(It is important that the government uses its time wisely by releasing the list immediately. We should avoid panic when the vaccine supplies come in. If we can smoothen out this masterlist to ensure that vaccination remains continuous, I am sure we will achieve our vaccination goals.)

“Let’s make sure that not a single essential worker who wants to be vaccinated is left out by accident. Siguraduhin natin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga health workers, mga pinakabulnerable, at ang breadwinners ng pamilyang Pilipino,” she added.

(Let’s make sure that not a single essential worker who wants to be vaccinated is left out by accident. Let’s ensure the safety of our health workers, those most vulnerable and family breadwinners.)

The national government recently approved and ratified its plan for mass immunization against Covid-19. The plan includes masterlisting or the linelisting and registration of the population before the vaccination process.

Local government units (LGUs) are required to undergo profiling and screening of eligible target populations for the registration of mass immunization.

The masterlisting are as follows:

• Group A includes frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent population and uniformed personnel.
• Group B includes other frontline workers and special populations.
• Group C, meanwhile, is the remaining population.

The Philippine government has already secured 108 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines after it signed five term sheets with different firms, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said.

JPV