The vaccination of the A4 priority group starts today, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said at the arrival ceremony of the Sinovac vaccines last Sunday (May 6).
He said the vaccination rollout will focus on the A4 priority group in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus 8 (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao) where there is an abundance of businesses.
“Malaking bagay, kasi sila ang economic frontliners. Napakahalaga na sila ay maumpisahan na rin na mabakunahan. Although tandaan natin ‘yung A3, yung persons with comorbidities, parang A4 na rin yan eh,” he said.
Duque said it is important that the A4 priority group or economic frontliners are vaccinated in order to reopen the country’s economy following the adverse effects of the pandemic.
He added that the government is ready to start vaccination in places experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases — Regions 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Duque also said the target for the vaccination rollout is four to five million individuals this month.
The NCR Plus 8 Commitment Ceremony and Symbolic Vaccination for the A4 priority group in Pasay City started at 9:00 a.m today.
Meanwhile, Navotas City has started its vaccination rollout for the A4 category.
Philippine Fisheries Development Authority staff, fishport workers, and fishermen, who are considered food security frontliners, are set to receive the vaccine soon.
-With reports from Alvin Barcelona/PG-jlo
