(FILE) A health worker prepares a Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine during the first phase of vaccinations for health workers at a hospital in Manila on March 1, 2021. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Saturday announced that in an effort to hasten the rollout of the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program, there will be simultaneous vaccinations of health workers, the elderly, and persons with comorbidities.
“Ipapatupad na po natin ang pagsabay na pagbakuna ng mga priority group A1, hanggang sa susunod na priority groups… hanggang priority group A2, yung ating mga seniors, at priority group A3, yung mga meron pong comorbidities sa substitution list,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in an announcement made over PTV.
Currently, only healthcare workers are allowed to be vaccinated, as per the government’s prioritization list.
Aside from this, Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has ordered to maximize the master listing and vaccination of A1, or workers in frontline service, “especially those who are not based in health facilities but provide COVID-19 case management from womb to tomb, screening at borders and points of entry, or management of COVID-19 specimens.”
The country’s vaccination efforts were previously marred with controversy as some local officials admitted they have been vaccinated despite being not included in the prioritization list.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has so far issued show-cause orders against five mayors. who received COVID-19 vaccines despite not being on the priority list.