No vax, no work policy covers cops

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said it will prohibit unvaccinated personnel from reporting to duty, in accordance with rules set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID).

Gen. Dionardo Carlos, PNP chief, said they will soon release a memorandum enforcing IATF resolutions on people who are still unvaccinated against Covid-19, within the force.

“We have exerted all effort to convince our personnel to be vaccinated against Covid-19. We understand that this may be a matter of their personal choice, but our priority is the general welfare at this time of pandemic,” Carlos said.

IATF resolution 148-B states that public or private employees may not be allowed to report for work or entry to workplaces unless they can provide proof of their vaccination.

We have exerted all effort to convince our personnel to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

The government later issued IATF resolution 149 said unvaccinated employees can only return to work upon presentation of negative results from reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, every two weeks.

Tests required

Partially vaccinated employees, whose schedule for the second dose of their vaccine has already lapsed, are also required to undergo and submit a negative RT-PCR test result every two weeks until they are fully vaccinated.

According to the PNP, there are 1,040 personnel, or 0.45 percent of its total strength of 225,676, who remain unvaccinated as of 3 December for no valid reason.

Carlos said the PNP will encourage the remaining unvaccinated personnel to get their jabs done by providing them more information about the benefits of getting the vaccine.

“The way to go is to educate them about the benefits instead of just forcing them. We will invite health experts to have a session with them,” he said.

The PNP will also consult the IATF on the extent of consideration for those who may have valid reasons such as health complications, Carlos said.

“What is clear is that the PNP isn’t exempted from this IATF decision and it is our duty to comply. Being law enforcers means setting ourselves as an example of law-abiding individuals,” he added.