(Photo by Natalia KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) released on Monday the list of subgroups included in the A4 or the group of frontline personnel in essential sectors who are included in the priority for COVID-19 vaccination.
In an online press briefing hosted by the Department of Health, Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon of NEDA explained that the A4 cluster is composed of economic sectors that have high levels of interaction with or exposure to the public, or are needed to ensure security, consumer and worker safety, and those working in priority government projects.
Below is the list of subgroups for the A4 group:
- A4.1 – Commuter transport (land, air, and sea), including logistics
- A4.2 – Frontline government workers in justice, security, transport and social protection sectors
- A4.3 – Public and private wet and dry market vendors; frontline workers in grocery, supermarkets; delivery services
- A4.4 – Workers in manufacturing for food, beverage, medical and pharmaceutical products
- A4.5 – Frontline workers in food retail, including food service delivery
- A4.6 – Frontline government workers
- A4.7 – Frontline workers in financial services
- A4.8 – Teaching and related personnel in medical and allied medical courses of higher education institutions, including personnel handling laboratories
- A4.9 – Frontline workers in hotels and accommodation
- A4.10 – Priests, pastors, religious leaders regardless of denomination
- A4.11 – Construction workers in government infrastructure projects
- A4.12 – Security guards/personnel assigned in the establishments, offices, agencies, and organizations
- A4.13 – Overseas Filipino workers not classified above, and scheduled for deployment within two months
Edillon said establishments, agencies, and organizations (EAOs) are encouraged to widely disseminate among their workers and personnel information on vaccine deployment activities and other procedures in their respective local government units.
She added that EAOs shall issue a Certificate of A4 Eligibility (e.g. employment, deployment, assignment) to their workers or personnel who belong to the A4 priority group.
According to Edillon, the certificate shall be signed by the owner of the establishment, highest-ranking personnel of the agency or organization with office located in the LGU, or the head of the human resources unit.
“EAOs are advised to adopt a scheduling system for their workers taking into consideration possible adverse reactions of vaccinees, which may result in workers taking time off from work. Workers will register for the appointment with the advised schedule of their employer,” she said.
She added that EAOs are also encouraged to provide logistics support, including transport services, to facilitate the vaccination of their workers, and to coordinate with LGUs for the vaccination.
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