In June the government will start vaccinating those belonging to the A4 priority group or economic frontliners and A5 or poor.
The group allegedly included helper Edna Dumalaog. But until now, she has not fully decided to get vaccinated due to fear.
Dumalaog will only make a decision when she sees some acquaintances who have already been vaccinated.
The National Task Force Against COVID-19 announced this Tuesday that it targets to start vaccinating the poor, including the members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“Sa A5 naman, uumpisahan natin siyempre ang ating listahan na 4Ps dahil iyon ang pinaka-poorest of the poor, pero hindi naman lahat ng mahihirap ay nandiyan sa listahan na iyan,” said NTF Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon.
But officials clarified that they will also allow local government units to be flexible in determining who can be considered poor.
Also read: DOH not in favor of allocating most vaccines to NCR Plus
NTF allows LGUs to determine those included in A5 priority group
“Bibigyan natin ng flexibility ang ating mga local government chief executives para i-determine kung sino ang mga kasama sa A5. Kasama na rin diyan ang mga kasambahay at iba pang mga populasyon na mahihirap pero not necessarily nasama sa 4Ps,” said Dizon.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, it is also difficult to separate the A4 and A5 groups.
“‘Yong mga tsuper, mga tindera, sila po ay A4 at A5 din kasi hindi naman ibig sabihin na palibhasa tsuper ka ay hindi ka na mahirap. May overlaps po yan at we will be flexible,” said Roque.
He said the government is also arranging proofs for A4 and A5 entries, such as membership in the Social Security System and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation of domestic helpers, which are mandated by law.
The government targets to vaccinate 70 million of the population before the end of the year. As of the last record, 4.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been injected in the country.
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