PNP kicks off vaccination drive for cops under A4 category

Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar recieves Sinovac vaccine during a simultaneous Covid19 inoculation of members of the police force in Narional Caiptal Region under the A4 priority group in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday, June 15. Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday kicked off its vaccination drive for officers within its ranks under the A4 priority group or “essential workers.”

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was the first one to get vaccinated with the first dose of China’s Sinovac BioNTech.

“Right now on going ang pagbabakuna ng ating mga pulis, we were given 500 vaccines for today’s vaccination,” said Eleazar.

“This is part of the 53,000 vaccines given to Metro Manila,” he added.

Simultaneous vaccinations are also happening in eight sites within Metro Manila namely, the National Capital Region Police Office, Quezon City Police District, Manila Police District, Southern Police District, Northern Police District, Special Action Force, and PNP Aviation Security Group.

Members of the PNP Command Group, in addition to Eleazar, also received their first doses in order to persuade all police officers of the vaccines’ safety and encourage them to become vaccinated.

“Bilang ama ng PNP, gusto kong ipakita sa ating hanay na epektibo po ang bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Lahat po ng bakunang aprubado ng Food and Drug Administration ay ligtas kaya’t huwag po kayong matakot na magpaturok nito,” Eleazar.

(As the father of the PNP, I want to show our ranks that the vaccine against COVID-19 is effective. All vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration are safe so don’t be afraid to get them.)

According to the PNP chief, the vaccine confidence rate among police personnel is now at 92.76 percent.

Eleazar said that vaccination within its officers is not mandatory and that no penalties will be given to those who would refuse vaccine jabs; however, incentives will be given to those vaccinated.

PNP Chief Eleazar said around 18,320 officers who belong to the A1, A2, and A3 priority group  — out of the 220,000-strong police force have already been vaccinated.

As of June 14, the PNP has recorded a total 25,866 COVID-19 cases, with active cases at 1,865, death toll at 71, and 23,930 recoveries.

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