The government has placed the A4 cluster, which covers essential economic workers, frontliners in national government offices, and uniformed personnel, on the anti-COVID vaccine arena as next in line for inoculation against the virus.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has said the vaccination of this group—and eventually the A5 cluster—will start in June when the supply stabilizes and after the government has started expanding the vaccination priority group.
On Monday, Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the Philippines would receive 30 to 40 million COVID-19 vaccine doses between this month and August, as the country’s first batch of essential workers get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.
This month, authorities will take delivery of 10 to 11 million vaccine doses, including 5.5 million from Beijing’s Sinovac Biotech; 4.2 million from vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility, including 2 million Pfizer shots arriving on June 10, and 2 million AstraZeneca doses; 250,000 Moderna doses ordered by the private sector; and 100,000 shots of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
Authorities could administer about 740,000 doses per day in August, when 15 to 17 million vaccines arrive, according to authorities.
We note that the Philippines has taken delivery of at least 9.329 million COVID-19 shots, of which nearly 6 million doses have been administered as of June 6.
We add our voice to what Galvez has said, that if the vaccine “is available in your area, do not hesitate to get inoculated. Do not worry about the brand because all these are safe and effective.”
The government aims to vaccinate at least 58 million in the country—population 110 million—to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.
Almost 1.27 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the Philippines, as of June 6.
Galvez’s call to vaccinate the A4 and A5 groups to prevent wastage is similar to President Rodrigo Duterte’s previous order to rush the distribution of doses.
There are 12 million people in the A4 group, while 16 million people are listed as poor.
Once the vaccination of these two groups shifts to high gear, they will be inoculated alongside healthcare workers, seniors, and people with comorbidities.
Galvez said major military and police camps would be used as vaccination sites for the A4 and A5 groups with the assistance of local government units.
Those in the A4 priority group must present a certificate of eligibility from their respective offices prior to their COVID-19 vaccination, expected to begin shortly, according to Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary Rose Edillon.
Like others, our hopes are high that with the A4 priority group on the arena, much will be done.