IATF to identify geographic priorities for COVID-19 vax rollout, says Duque

The government's task force for COVID-19 response is set to identify which areas would be prioritized in its immunization program, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday.

"This afternoon, the IATF will meet again and decide on which geographic areas need to be prioritized," Duque said in an interview on ANC, referring to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which he chairs.

Duque also dismissed observations that local government units seem to be moving faster than the national government in terms of securing vaccines.

"The vaccine czar has been working very hard to ensure that the coordination [and] the negotiations are proceeding smoothly," Duque said, referring to Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the official in charge of the vaccine program.

"This is really going to be a national government effort with the President's approval of the LGUs supporting the national government. This is a complementary effort, this is not an uncoordinated effort."

Galvez announced on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a recommendation for LGUs to enter into a tripartite agreement for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. It will involve the LGUs, national government and the vaccine manufacturers.

Galvez has earlier said that the government plans to vaccinate around 25 million Filipinos against COVID-19 this year. —KBK, GMA News