Galvez pushes for simultaneous vaccination of gov’t workers, economic frontliners

MANILA, Philippines — Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the country’s vaccine manager, has recommended simultaneously vaccinating government workers and economic frontliners to prevent possible “jealousy” among them over the vaccination priority list.

In a pre-recorded meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired Monday night, Galvez proposed vaccinating the following groups at the same time after the inoculation of those in the topmost priority had been completed:

• B1: teachers, social workers
• B2: other government workers
• B3: other essential workers
• B4: socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigenous people
• B5: overseas Filipino workers
• B6: others in the remaining workforce

“Nagkakaroon po ng selosan. ‘Bakit ako hindi kasama e ako din essential worker?’ Example, bakit nahuli yung overseas Filipino [workers] sa government workers?” Galvez said.

“Some jealousy is developing: ‘Why am I not included when I’m also an essential worker?’ Example: Why were overseas Filipino [workers] vaccinated after government workers?” Galvez said in Filipino.

“So what we can do is combine B1 and B6 because they are frontliners — either government or economic frontliners,” he added.

The Philippines has been simultaneously vaccinating health workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and persons with comorbidities (A3).

Galvez said the vaccination of those under A4 and A5 may begin in May.

Classified under A4 are frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and local chief executives, and those under A5 are the indigent.

RELATED STORY

LIST: Priority groups for government’s Covid-19 vaccination program

[atm]