DOT: 5,000 tourism workers in Bohol to be vaccinated vs COVID-19

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MANILA, Philippines — Some 5,000 tourism workers in Bohol are set to be inoculated against new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.

DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said 10,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine may arrive in the city as early as this week after vaccine czar Carlito Galvez approved her agency’s request for additional vaccines. The 10,000 Sputnik V vaccine doses will be allocated to 5,000 tourism workers, she added.

DOT earlier said 10,000 tourism workers in Bohol would get the 10,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, but later issued a clarification.

“With these vaccines, we are assured that frontliners from accredited hotel and resort, transport operators, tour site, and restaurant facilities will have an added protection against COVID-19,” Puyat said in an online briefing.

Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap said tourism workers from DOT-accredited establishments that secured the Certificate of Authority to Operate and Bohol’s tourism seal of excellence called the Ultimate Bohol Experience (UBE) will be prioritized in the vaccination program.

“The promise of more vaccines arriving sooner than later is indeed great news so we can protect not only our residents but assure visitors that we are taking measures to assure their safety as well,” Yap said.

Previously, the national government has put tourism frontline workers in hotel quarantine facilities under the A1 category along with medical front liners. The government also started the immunization of those under the A4 category, which includes tourism workers.

KGA