Finalize guidelines for A4 priority list — Go

While we want to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we can, we still need to ensure their health and safety while they are in the process of getting vaccinated.

As government prepares to expand the vaccine rollout to a larger segment of the population, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases to finalize the guidelines on the required processes and procedures to be followed by those in the A4 category priority list.

Go commended the government for its ongoing efforts to accelerate the vaccine rollout for those belonging in A1 to A3 categories, particularly frontliners, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities. He, however, raised concerns that as the rollout reaches a bigger segment of the population, more preparations must be done to ensure seamless and efficient inoculation nationwide.

“While we want to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we can, we still need to ensure their health and safety while they are in the process of getting vaccinated,” Go said.

The IATF-EID had issued the updated list of sectors included in Priority Group A4 on Thursday, 15 April. The list includes essential workers from the education, government services, manufacturing, market, news media and transportation sectors or industries.

National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon disclosed during a recent media briefing that the schedule of the next phase of the vaccine rollout has yet to be finalized.

Depending on the availability of the vaccines, the government expects to begin inoculating members of the A4 priority group by June or July, if not May at the earliest. Edillon added that the inoculation may be held simultaneously with the remaining A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) priority groups.

To ensure the efficient rollout of the vaccines, the Senator urged the IATF, DoH, NEDA, and other relevant authorities to communicate the guidelines in a clear and simplified manner that the public can understand and comply with. He stressed the importance of effective communications in avoiding confusion and overcrowding at vaccination centers.

Prior to the start of the rollout, Go had issued several appeals to the government to include media workers, particularly frontliners and field reporters of news outlets, in the Covid-19 priority list.

He noted the significant role played by the media, especially during the pandemic, by disseminating information and keeping Filipinos informed about the latest developments, while putting their health and safety at risk.