Galvez: Gov’t eyes 100% vaccination of tourism workers by yearend

(FILE)  Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat (second from right) and Surigao del Norte Gov. Francisco Matugas (right) witness the recent vaccination rollout for tourism workers on Siargao Island. Puyat says getting employees of tourism-related businesses protected from COVID-19 is key to the recovery of local economies. —ERWIN M.MASCARIÑAS

MANILA, Philippines — The government is aiming to vaccinate some 5 million tourism workers against COVID-19 by yearend, the National Taskforce Against COVID-19 reported on Saturday.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said this was the target set by the Cabinet and by COVID-19 task force officials.

“When the pandemic struck, the nation’s tourism sector took a major hit. We believe that in order for the industry to get back on its feet and safely open our economy, we need to vaccinate as many members of our workforce as possible,” Galvez said.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said Galvez approved the allocation of 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per week for tourism workers.

The vaccination is not limited to hotel and resort employees as it will also cover workers in restaurants, airports, as well as workers in the informal economy who are doing business in tourist destinations.

“These will cover everybody that tourists come in contact with,” Romulo-Puyat said.

According to the NTF, Cebu City has vaccinated 50 percent of its tourism workers.

Metro Manila meanwhile has vaccinated a total of 95 percent of its tourism workers, the DOT said.

/MUF