Vaccination of essential workers, indigents to be concentrated in ‘NCR + 8’ —DOH exec

The vaccination of essential workers and indigents in June will only be concentrated in “NCR + 8” or Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, and provinces that form Calabarzon and Central Luzon, a health official said Wednesday.

“Iko-concentrate natin sa tinatawag nating geographic area kung saan nandoon ‘yung surge ng cases so A4 and A5 [vaccinations], sa NCR + 8 lang muna,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said in a Laging Handa briefing.

(We will concentrate A4 and A5 vaccinations in areas where there is a surge in cases, so that’s NCR + 8.)

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier announced that essential workers and indigents, who belong to the A4 and A5 priority sectors, will be vaccinated starting June once the country’s supply stabilizes.

Citing data from the National Economic and Development Authority, he said there are 12.8 million essential workers and 16 million indigents.

Cabotaje said the vaccination of the A4 and A5 groups will still be simultaneous with the inoculation of health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

She added that authorities will assess the vaccine rollout in NCR + 8 areas.

“‘Pag mabilis sila, then we will give additional [doses]. ‘Yung mga mabagal naman, tutulungan natin paano makamit ‘yung kanilang targets based on their capacities,” she said.

(If they’re quick, then we will give additional doses. Those who are slower will receive help so they can meet their targets based on their capacities.)

Cabotaje also said experts will look into proposals to include students and election workers in the priority groups for vaccination and raise the matter to the government’s inter-agency COVID-19 task force.

The Philippines has vaccinated 2.5 million individuals as of May 18, still far from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year.—AOL, GMA News