Wary of vaccine wastage, private sector group seeks booster shots for employees

A health worker prepares a dose of the BioNtech Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine during a vaccination at a stadium in Manila on July 15, 2021. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — A private sector consortium has emphasized the need to administer COVID-19 booster shots for their employees as they expressed concern over the expiration of vaccine doses they have procured.

The administration of booster doses, among other recommendations to accelerate vaccination, was discussed by the public-private Task Force T3 or Test, Trade and Treat during a meeting last October 15, the group said in a statement shared to the media.

Private sector members of T3 appealed for “flexibility to administer the doses for 12-17 years old and for boosters among their employees at the soonest possible time as they expressed concern over the expiration of the supply they procured.”

Meanwhile, the consortium also pointed out that the acceleration of vaccination outside Metro Manila is important. They proposed to the government to ensure that policies to open vaccination to the general population and inoculating minors are implemented across all regions and that booster shots be administered, starting with health workers.

To increase the vaccination rate, the government should share to provincial units the practices employed by local governments in Metro Manila in achieving a high vaccination coverage, the group also said.

Private sector members of the task force likewise proposed vaccine incentives for the fully vaccinated, allowing more mobility and unrestricted access to restaurants, gyms, tourism and other establishments and all forms of public transportation.

“T3 is optimistic that with increased vaccination rates, the focus can shift from lockdowns to a faster reopening of the economy. For NCR and other highly vaccinated areas, re-opening public transportation and schools was also proposed,” the group added, adding that all efforts for Metro Manila to be placed under alert level 2 by early November should be implemented.

RELATED STORIES:

COVID-19 toll on economy to hit P41.4T, says Neda

Immunocompromised, seniors set to receive 3rd vaccine shot, says DOH

EDV