Actor Mark Anthony Fernandez (file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Friday said that the Parañaque City authorities’ decision to allow the substitution of actor Mark Anthony Fernandez in the COVID-19 vaccination priority list is inappropriate, considering that the vaccines were specifically allotted for medical frontliners.
“I think it’s not appropriate at this time. We should remember that the vaccines are donations from the COVAX facility,” Teodoro said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, who is Teodoro’s colleague in the Metro Manila Council, earlier pointed out that Fernandez’s inoculation with the AstraZeneca vaccine was allowed as the actor had comorbidities such as hypertension and depression.
Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro (Image from Marikina PIO Facebook)
The Department of the Interior and Local Government, however, didn’t buy the Parañaque mayor’s reason, adding that it will issue a show-cause order against Olivarez.
“The purpose of these vaccines is to provide access for third world countries like ours to get vaccines. and the purpose of the vaccination is to protect the integrity of our healthcare system,” Teodoro said.
“We are avoiding the possibility that our healthcare system will collapse,” Teodoro added.