Caloocan started vaccinating today (June 16) its indigent population or those under priority group A5, beginning with Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
The Caloocan local government said the beneficiaries were selected because they have already been identified and they belong to the poorest population.
“Hindi naman ibig sabihin nito ay ‘yung slightly mahihirap ay hindi i-e-entertain. Kaya lang, siguro at this point, mas magandang unahin natin ‘yung pinakamahihirap,” said Dr. Rachel Basa, Medical Officer IV and COVID vaccine coordinator.
Caloocan received around 67,000 Pfizer-BioNTech doses from the COVAX Facility. Based on COVAX guidelines, the vaccines can also be used for priority groups A1, A2, A3, and A5.
Other members of the indigent sector will also be covered by the vaccination program once more doses are handed to the city. At least 281,000 doses have been administered in Caloocan.
Meanwhile, 500 San Miguel Corporation employees under priority group A4 were inoculated today using CoronaVac doses from the government.
Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the vaccines are to show gratitude for the company’s contribution to the country’s pandemic response.
Galvez said they are planning to maintain at least 100,000 jabs per day with the arrival of more vaccines.
“Mayroon po tayong matatanggap na 1.5 million Sinovac bukas and another 1.5 million sa June 24. Darating din [from] COVAX ang 2 million na AstraZeneca, at ang donation ng U.S. baka dumating din po June or July,” Galvez said. – Reports from Kenneth Paciente and Karen Villanda/AG- jlo#
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