Sought-after Pfizer vaccines from COVAX must go to indigents, says Duterte 

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered that the sought-after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility will go to the indigent population and be offered in barangays where there is low-vaccine take-up, Malacañang said Thursday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this is in accordance with the conditions set by the COVAX facility which donated the jabs.

“Ipinagutos rin po ng Pangulo na ibigay ang Pfizer sa mga mahirap o sa indigent population dahil yan po ang patakaran ng COVAX,” Roque said in his regular press briefing.

(The President ordered that Pfizer be given to the poor or the indigent population because that is the rules of the COVAX.)

“Dagdag po ni Presidente, ilagay ang Pfizer, hindi sa mga mall, kundi sa vaccination sites sa mga barangay kung saan mababa ang take-up ng vaccines,” he added.

(The President also said Pfizer should not be offered in malls, but in vaccination sites of barangays where there is a low take-up of vaccines.)

Roque explained that under COVAX’s conditions, the donated jabs must first go to health workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), persons with comorbidities (A3) and indigent citizens (A5).

“Ang A4 po, ang paggagamitan natin diyan ay ang binili po nating mga bakuna,” Roque said, referring to those considered as essential workers.

(Those under A4, vaccines will be used to them are those procured by the government.)

More individuals may soon be vaccinated as the government prepares to start inoculating essential workers (A4) and indigent citizens (A5) in June or once the volume of COVID-19 vaccines is already steady.

However, the vaccine rollout for persons under these priority groups will be concentrated first in Metro Manila and eight other areas.

JPV