LGUs set to start A4 COVID-19 vaccination but will continue inoculating A1 to A3

Some local government units are preparing for the start of the vaccination of recipients under the A4 category of the prioritization in the government’s inoculation program on Monday.

Parañaque City will have a soft launch on Monday for the vaccination of the A4 priority group, according to a report on Unang Balita.

Mandaluyong City will also have a ceremonial vaccination on Monday morning at the city hall grounds.

Valenzuela City on the other hand, will start inoculating A4 on June 9.

The national government has scheduled a ceremonial vaccination for the A4 group on Monday morning at the SM Mall of Asia, attended by top government officials.

In a Facebook post, the Taguig City government said it will still prioritize the vaccination of A1 to A3 category while assuring that all residents will have access to vaccines as more supplies are expected to arrive.

“The City continues to prioritize the vaccination of those under the A1 (Health Workers), A2 (Senior Citizens), A3 (Persons with Comorbidities), but is ready for the inoculation of those who fall under the A4 (Essential Workers) category,” it said.

“With the new category opening we expect higher volume of vaccinees. Taguig will continue to work on making the vaccination in the city fast, safe, and accessible to all Taguigenos,” it added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said it is important that the A4 priority group, the economic frontliners, are vaccinated against COVID-19.

"Malaking bagay kasi sila ang tinatawag natin na economic frontliners. So napakamahalaga na sila ay maumpisahan na rin na mabakunahan," Duque said on Sunday on the sidelines of the welcome ceremony for the arrival of one million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

(Those who are in the A4 group are economic frontliners. So it is very important that the vaccination for this group will start.)

The government said that the COVID-19 vaccination of A4 individuals will be prioritized in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.

The Inter-Agency Task Force has simplified the A4 category to include all government and private sector workers, informal sector workers, and those who work in private households who need to physically report to work.

The expanded A4 category also prompted the government to prioritize vaccination of those aged 40 to 59 years old.

Vaccination of the A4 category will be done in two phases:

• Phase 1: A4 workers in NCR+8 (Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao)
• Phase 2: A4 workers outside NCR+8

Some bus drivers are looking forward to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine soon as they are now part of the A4 group, according to a report by Bam Alegre on Unang Balita.

"Maganda 'yan para iwas-COVID-19," bus driver Alden Espina said.

Manila and Caloocan

According to a report of James Agustin on GMA News’ Unang Balita, the Manila government has only scheduled the vaccination of recipients for the first or second dose under the A1 to A3 category on Monday.

Around 350 recipients are set to have their second dose in Ramon Magsaysay High School and another 350 in Isabelo delos Reyes Elementary School.

Each district hospital has around 300 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for A1 to A3 category.

In Caloocan City, meanwhile, more than 9,000 residents also under the A1 to A3 category are scheduled to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, according to a report of Darlene Cay on Unang Balita.

Over 153,000 recipients already had their first dose of the vaccine, while more than 40,000 already had their second dose. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News