Some officials have called for those in priority group A4 to be allowed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to speed up the progress of COVID-19 vaccination, and so vaccines would be wasted.
Along with officials from several cities in Metro Manila and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian called for the vaccination of workers such as market vendors, tricycle and jeepney drivers, and construction workers.
“Kung gusto ho natin maabot ang herd immunity by end of the year… ‘wag natin hintayin magbago pa ‘yong isip ng seniors at iba pang may comorbidity. Iakyat na natin kaagad ‘yong A4. And then as early as June, puwede na mag-general public,” said Gatchalian.
Earlier, vaccine czar, Carlito Galvez, said that those in the A4 group might be vaccinated in June because the number of vaccines arriving in the country is limited. In August, the general public is targeted to be inoculated.
Currently, only health workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidity are allowed to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Some officials call for essential workers’ vaccination
The Philippines has a target to vaccinate 70 million before the end of the year to achieve herd immunity, but, according to Malacañang, only 2.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country.
In Valenzuela, even though the COVID-19 vaccination has been around for more than 2 months, only 15 percent of the city’s total population registers online for vaccination.
“It’s quite worrisome, kasi kung excited magpabakuna, sana lumobo kaagad ang numero,” said Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian.
The Valenzuela city government plans to strengthen the vaccination information campaign.
In Navotas, only 30 percent of senior citizens register online.
Navotas residents are also allowed to choose a vaccine brand and schedule when registering online.
Meanwhile, mayors and governors from the former A4 are now part of vaccination priority group A1.5, based on the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
“Sila po talaga ang ating instrumento dito sa paglaban natin sa COVID-19,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque about local officials.
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