Private sector coalition welcomes A4 vaccination in June

The vaccination of the A4 priority group against COVID-19, which is expected to start this month, will help in the reopening of businesses, private sector coalition Taskforce T3 (Test, Trace, Treat) said Thursday.

On Wednesday, special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Dr. Teodoro Herbosa said the vaccination will run from June to November amid a tight supply of vaccines.

"The private sector believes in vaccinating as many people in the soonest possible time so that we may safely reopen the economy," Guillermo Luz, Taskforce T3 proponent, said in a statement.

“Thus, we support the expansion of the administration of vaccines to the A4 priority sector this June and thank the IATF and the national government for this decision,” he added.

Last week, the government expanded the A4 category by including all workers required to physically report for work.

The Taskforce T3 also said that vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr.’s continuous efforts to procure vaccines made the opening of the A4 sector possible.

“We are pleased with the increased and assured supply of around 10 million doses in June and we hope that this continues in the coming months,” Luz said.

According to the coalition, it is partnering with local government units to augment vaccination rates in NCR Plus through the cooperation of Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc., Metro Pacific Hospitals Holdings, Inc, Mount Grace Hospitals Inc., St. Luke’s Medical Center, and The Medical City.

NCR Plus covers Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan.

As of May 30, the Philippines has fully vaccinated more than 1.2 million individuals against COVID-19. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA News