A man takes a selfie at the Vaccine Express at the CPP to record his getting his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Photo from the Twitter account of Vice President Leni Robredo)
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday expressed hopes that her office would be given access to the vaccine supply for smoother rollout of its “Vaccine Express” program.
Robredo, in her weekly radio program, said this would enable them to bring the program to more areas, noting that more local government units (LGUs) are requesting to bring the Vaccine Express to their areas after its initial rollout in Manila City.
READ: Manila’s Vaccine Express inoculates over 4,500 persons vs COVID-19 – Robredo
“Malaking bagay kung mayroon kaming access,” Robredo said over DZXL radio.
(Having access to vaccines would be a big thing for us.)
The Vaccine Express is the Office of the Vice President’s initiative that aims to inoculate on-the-go drivers and riders as part of the vaccination rollout to workers under the A4 category.
Robredo noted that the initiative is in charge of the logistics and set-up of the vaccination drive, but it is still reliant on LGUs when it comes to vaccine supplies.
READ: OVP ‘very much willing’ to expand ‘Vaccine Express’ initiative to Visayas, Mindanao
“Kung hindi magpo-provide ng supply iyong partner LGU, hindi namin magagawa kasi wala kaming access.”
(If our LGU partners would not provide us with supplies, we could not conduct the program.)
“Mas madali sa amin kung mas bigyan kami ng access, kahit na hindi pondo,” she explained. “Hindi naman kami humihingi ng dagdag na pondo kasi nahahapan naman namin ng paraan, pero iyong access lang sa supply, malaking bagay.”
(It would be easier for us to have vaccine access. We don’t ask for funds; we could find a way to generate it. But when it comes to access to the supply, it will be a huge deal.)