113,000 missed booster shots
The government has so far received at least 9.329 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered local government units (LGU) and other concerned agencies to investigate why about 113,000 Filipinos who received their first doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines have deferred getting their second shots.
During his televised meeting with members of the pandemic task force, the President
admitted that it was difficult to convince Filipinos to get the required second doses.
“I want the authorities and local government units to find out why this is happening,” the President said. “Kindly help us ferret out the persons who have not received the second boosters until now.”
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., who was present at the meeting, said individuals who did not get their second doses on time had valid reasons for being unable to do so.
Some of them were exposed to Covid-19 cases and had to undergo quarantine while others had medical complications which arose at the vaccination sites, he said.
Duterte, meanwhile, urged those vaccinated to get the second doses of Covid-19 vaccines.
“Those who received their first injection, you need boosters. Please find time to go back and line up. Show your card, so that they would know you are receiving the second dose,” he said.
The Covid-19 jabs available in the Philippines, namely those made by Sinovac Biotech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Gamaleya Research Institute, and Pfizer-Biotech, are given in two doses.
The government has so far received at least 9.329 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, of which some 5.965 million doses have been administered as of Sunday.
Since the start of the vaccination rollout last March, at least 1.544 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated, while 4.421 million individuals have received their first doses.
Authorities are eyeing to inoculate 50 million Filipinos this year to achieve “population protection.”
A4 group
Earlier in the day, Health Secretary Francisco Duque appealed to local officials and private firms to prioritize essential workers aged 40 to 59 in the Covid-19 vaccination of the country’s workforce.
Duque made the call during the “symbolic vaccination” of the A4 group or economic frontliners, which was seen by officials and the private sector as the first step toward economic recovery.
“It’s important that we prioritize within the A4 individuals aged 40 to 59,” Duque said in a press conference after the ceremony. “It’s clear that older individuals are more at risk of severe Covid-19 infections than those who are younger.”
Eight government workers, seven reporters from the Malacañang Press Corps, five celebrities from the entertainment sector, four fast food chain crew, four SM Supermalls personnel, four teachers, and four household workers were among those inoculated during the ceremonial launch.
They were joined by three food delivery riders, three Department of Transportation drivers, three employees from the business processes outsourcing sector, three travel guides, and two tricycle drivers.
About 35 million Filipinos belong to the A4 priority group, composed of workers in the government, private sector, and informal sector, according to the country’s top economists.
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’
Duterte, in a taped message during the event, expressed optimism that the Philippines is seeing an end to the pandemic as the government started vaccinating economic frontliners with more Covid-19 jabs arriving.
It means that millions of essential workers will be vaccinated alongside health professionals, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
“We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccine shipments have arrived, and have started to arrive in bulk,” Duterte said in his message.
The Philippines is expected to receive about 10 million Covid-19 shots this month and additional 15 million more doses in August, Galvez said.
“This development is the result of our national government’s aggressive efforts to secure sufficient doses from different manufacturers,” Duterte said.
“With the start of our mass vaccination, the A4 priority category is workers in both public and private sector will have an added layer of protection against the disease,” the President added.
NCR Plus 8 first
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, meanwhile, said the vaccination of the A4 group is a much-needed shot in the arm to support the economy and boost the confidence of industry leaders.
“This is really what we need as we are trying to continuously reopen, otherwise, our reopening will be two steps forward, one step backward,” Lopez said.
The private sector vowed to support the national vaccination program and committed to educating and encouraging its employees with the importance of Covid vaccination.
“We commit to continuing to work hand-and-hand with the national government and the local government units until the Philippines achieves population protection,” the sector said in a statement, which was read by Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Secretary Joey Concepcion, along with business tycoons Hans Sy of SM Investments and Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corporation.
We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccine shipments have arrived, and have started to arrive in bulk.
“All these we pledged to do so that more Filipinos will have added protection that they need to go out safely,” they added.
The vaccination of individuals under the A4 priority group will first focus in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Cebu, and Davao — collectively known as the NCR Plus 8.
The said cities and provinces shall be prioritized, Duque said, since these were identified as areas with “high burden of disease and loci of economic activities.”
Based on a circular crafted by the health department, eligible vaccine recipients under the A4 priority groups shall be identified through a line list according to their residences or workplaces. Local officials will be responsible for crafting the master list for the A4 priority groups within their jurisdiction.
All establishments, agencies and organizations whether private or public, shall submit the necessary information to their respective local government units in compliance with the minimum requirements as set by the government, subject to the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Private firms may provide proof of eligibility for their employees such as company ID, contracts or permits, or certificates of employment.
Meanwhile, mayors and barangay officials shall be responsible for facilitating the registration of eligible workers in the informal sector such as small food stalls and sari-sari stores.
Those in the informal sector may present any proof of occupation such as business permits or community tax certificates, according to the circular.
The Philippines has recorded the second highest Covid-19 tally in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia, with about 1.27 million coronavirus infections and nearly 22,000 deaths.