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SC to procure COVID-19 vaccines for over 30k members of judiciary
The Supreme Court has approved the procurement of coronavirus vaccines for the entire judiciary—made up of over 30,000 justices, judges, officials, and employees—which is expected to cost around P19 million.
The High Court approved the procurement during an en banc session on January 26.
The total cost will be charged to regular appropriations or savings, as needed, of the Supreme Court, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and the lower courts.
Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said the Supreme Court will work with the national government in the procurement of vaccines.
“We hope that the national government will assist us in our initiative considering the important role which the Judiciary plays in ensuring that the rule of law prevails especially during times of crisis and national emergencies,” he said in a statement.
Under the government’s vaccine prioritization list
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Frontline workers in essential industries and other government workers were prioritized as A4 and B2, respectively, in a list that runs from A to C.
The Philippines is set to receive 600,000 doses from China’s Sinovac on February 23.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines from the World Health Organization-led COVAX Facility are also expected to arrive within this month, according to the Department of Health.
The country has so far procured over 100 million doses. — Julia Mari Ornedo/RSJ, GMA News