Galvez vows no politics in COVID-19 vaccine distribution, says it's immoral

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Thursday assured the public that politics will play no role in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, which the government expects to conduct next year, a year before the 2022 national and local elections.

"We will ensure na hindi po magiging pulitika ito dahil we want to save lives at saka 'yung ating economy," Galvez, also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Yun po ang pinaka-primary focus ng vaccine natin, na manumbalik po ang ating normalcy sa ating pamumuhay tsaka maka-recover nang husto ang ating economy," he said.

"So, hindi po natin gagamitin ito kung saan man sa pulitika kasi I think that's immoral."

Malacañang also gave its assurance that the vaccination program will not be politicized.

"Hay naku! Paano naman magiging pulitika ito eh kailangan talaga natin ng bakuna ano, so wala pong pulitika diyan," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference in Quezon.

"Kung gagawin pong pulitika ito eh maaalala ninyo iyong ginagawa ng huling administrasyon, pero hindi po ganiyan ang Presidente. Kinakailangan po ng bakuna para matapos ang pandemya at ibibigay po iyan sa lahat," he added.

Galvez said more than 35 million Filipinos will be prioritized to receive vaccines against COVID-19.

Aside from residents of areas severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and centers of economic activities, Galvez said healthcare workers and frontliners, including those in the government, will be among the priorities.

The government hopes to vaccinate 60 to 70% of Filipinos within three to five years to achieve herd immunity.

According to Galvez, the government -- which expects to start the distribution of vaccine in the second quarter of 2021 at the earliest -- could only vaccinate 20 million to 30 million people a year. — with Virgil Lopez/KBK/RSJ, GMA News