MANILA – Around 44 million doses of to-be-donated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine from the COVAX facility is in danger if the country will not follow the priority list for its vaccination rollout, the Malacañang said.
This statement came after some mayors in the country have undergone COVID-19 vaccination.
“Mga mayor tama na po ‘yan ha,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday. “We are asking for your indulgence. Baka mawala iyong 44 million nating libre dosages na manggaling sa COVAX facility kung hindi masusunod ang priority list.”
Recently, five mayors were issued show-cause orders by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for having participated in the vaccination program.
According to Roque, the mayors should just wait for their turn as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has approved that they will be moved up from the priority list.
“Kahit na mayroong gray area, tulad ng sabi ni Presidente, It is wrong for the mayors to jump the line,” Roque said. “Naitaas ang priority ng mga mayors sa A4 pero sa ngayon A1 palang ang pinababakuhan natin kaya wag kayo mag jump the line.”
Previously under A5, mayors and barangay captains were placed in A4 category. They are now included to the group of frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified as essential during an enhanced community quarantine.
The country has so far received 525,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from the COVAX facility, while 900,000 more doses are scheduled to arrive this month./PN
