A private sector coalition organized to consolidate the business community’s COVID- 19 response efforts fully supports the government’s decision to expand the vaccination rollout to the A4 priority sector starting June 7.
Guillermo “Bill” Luz, Taskforce T3 proponent and Chief Resilience Officer of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, said Thursday the inclusion of A4, majority of whom represent the economic frontliners, will help the private sector greatly in the reopening of their businesses.
“The private sector believes in vaccinating as many people in the soonest possible time so that we may safely reopen the economy. Thus, we support the expansion of the administration of vaccines to the A4 priority sector this June and thank the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) and the national government for this decision,” Luz said.
The group acknowledges that in the 40-59 year-old age group among A4 may be given preference in the implementation, as well as continued priority to be given to A1 to A3, he added.
Meanwhile, only 9 percent of COVID-19 vaccine recipients have missed their schedule for the second dose, contrary to an expert’s earlier statement that half of inoculated individuals missed their second shot, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday.
Filipinos can still get the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine even after missing their schedule by one or two weeks, an epidemiology and data analytics expert working with government also said
In other developments:
• Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday urged the IATF and the Department of Health (DOH) to remove the 14-day quarantine on fully vaccinated persons entering the Philippines.
• Phase 1 of a study that will look into the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in a “real-world setting” will be conducted in the UP-Philippine General Hospital, its project leader said Thursday.
National Task Force for Covid-19 (NTF) Deputy Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon clarified during yesterday’s Task Force T3 monthly update meeting that even with the opening of vaccination to the A4 sector, A1 to A3 will still be prioritized through dedicated special lanes in all vaccination facilities.
Under IATF Resolution No. 117, those eligible for vaccination include private sector workers required to be physically present at their workplace outside their residences; employees in government agencies and instrumentalities; and informal sector workers and self-employed who may be required to work outside their residences, and those working in private households.
Taskforce T3 also lauded NTF Chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez for continuously working to ensure a steady supply of vaccines for the country, which made the opening for 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,” says Luz.
The rollout to include A4 will make use of vaccines procured by the government and the private sector, through tripartite agreements. Supply coming from the COVAX facility will continue to be earmarked exclusively for the A1 to A3 and the A5 priority sectors, as Secretary Dizon explained.
Taskforce T3 vowed to strengthen its ongoing collaboration with the national government to accelerate the pace of the national vaccination program.
It is partnering with LGUs to augment jab rates in NCR Plus 6 through the cooperation of the 5 biggest private hospital groups in the country, namely: Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health), Metro Pacific Hospitals Holdings, Inc (MPPHI), Mount Grace Hospitals Inc., St. Luke’s Medical Center and The Medical City.
Moreover, T3 has also helped promote vaccine confidence through the Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat campaign as well as providing incentives via Smart Bakuna Benefits.
Luz assured that Taskforce T3 will continue to work and collaborate with the government until the country is able to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We support the plan to achieve population protection by focusing on the vaccination of NCR Plus 8,” adds Luz.