DOH: Indigent Pinoys can get COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX if supply permits

Local governments may administer COVID-19 vaccines from the COVAX Facility to indigent Filipinos part of the A5 priority sector if there are enough supplies, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the World Health Organization, which leads the vaccine-sharing initiative, has allowed the use of COVAX jabs on the poor on top of health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities.

However, Vergeire stressed that the vaccination of indigents against COVID-19 must be strategic as the country grapples with a supply scarcity.

“Alam naman po natin, hindi pa ganoon kadami ang ating supply. Ito (vaccinating A5) naman ay allowed na, pero it will depend on the supply (We know that the supply is insufficient. This is allowed but it will depend on the supply),” she said in a briefing.

“So if local governments, nakikita nila na kaya na base sa kanilang allocations, then they can do it naman because guidelines are there, [the WHO] pronouncement is there, wala po tayong iva-violate,” she added.

(If local governments see that they can vaccinate the A5 based on their allocations, then they can do it because guidelines are there, [the WHO] pronouncement is there, we are not violating anything.)

The WHO previously warned that the Philippines’ supply of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX may be jeopardized if the prioritization list is not followed

The DOH explained that this was why COVAX vaccines cannot be used on essential workers or the A4 priority group. 

President Rodrigo Duterte has also ordered the use of Pfizer vaccines from COVAX on the indigent population.

The Philippines has received millions of Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses from COVAX. 

Over 4.6 million individuals nationwide have been inoculated as of June 8. — RSJ, GMA News