Solon urges DSWD to prepare list of priority individuals for COVID vaccine

Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas is urging the Department of Social Welfare and Development to prepare as early as now the list of individuals who will be prioritized for the government's COVID-19 immunization program.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview on Sunday, Vargas, who was recently elected chairperson of the House Committee on Social Services, underscored the importance of the DSWD and the many volunteers under it in the implementation of the COVID immunization program.

"Ang una nating ginawa, nag-clarify tayo at sinabi natin sa DSWD na kailangan ngayon pa lang, or kahapon, or nung isang linggo or sana before pa inaayos na yung listahan," he said.

"Inaayos pa rin ngayon kasi ayaw natin mangyari na may nagrereklamo. Yung vaccine kasi, mahalaga na per vial ay mapupunta sa tamang tao," he added.

Vargas also said that local government units will play a key role in identifying the individuals to be prioritized for vaccination.

"Pagdating naman sa mga LGUs, kasi sila yung sa listahan, umaasa rin sila sa barangay level para sa listahan. So isa itong napakalaking effort na kailangan. From top to bottom, kailangan coordinated, kailangan ngayon pine-prepare na," he said.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that more than 35 million Filipinos will be prioritized to receive vaccines against COVID-19.

He said the vaccination will start in areas that are most affected by the pandemic as well as those considered as business centers so the country will immediately feel its effect.

Areas Galvez identified include the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro.

Then, the vaccination will proceed to accommodate the priority sectors, which include the frontliners, military, police, servicemen, essential workers in the government, and vulnerable and poor communities.

Vargas believes there is enough time for the DSWD to prepare the list of priority individuals for the vaccination.

He likewise suggested that private planes be used for the distribution of vaccines, and that LGUs that could procure their own vials be allowed to do so.

"I also advise na yung mga LGU na medyo may kakayahan naman na bumili ng sarili nila, mag-procure ng sarili nilang vaccine, kasi may nagparamdam ng mga ganun e. Sabi ko sana payagan na," Vargas said.

"Sa tingin ko malaki ang tulong nito kasi it will ease the burden from the national vaccination program," he added.

The Philippines has already secured 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccines through a tripartite agreement with the private sector and AstraZeneca, with the private sector shouldering the cost.

The 2.6 million doses will be good for one million people.

AstraZeneca has yet to secure an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.  —LBG, GMA News