The Department of Health (DOH) will launch the “A2 Plus 1” and “A3 Plus 1” program that allows senior citizens and persons with comorbidities to bring one person along with them to their COVID-19 vaccination.
In a statement on Wednesday (Aug. 19), DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the program aims to encourage more people, especially those under the A2 and A3 categories, to get inoculated against the virus.
“Sila po ay medyo may pag-aagam-agam kaya ayaw magpabakuna, ngunit kapag nakikita na nila ang kanilang kamag-anak o ‘di kaya kasambahay na nababakunahan at nakikita nilang ligtas naman, gusto na nilang magpabakuna,” she said.
Vergeire explained that the relative or helper who accompanies the vaccine recipient will also receive a jab.
“Ibig sabihin, ‘yun pong mga nagche-chemotherapy, ‘yung nagkaroon ng organ transplant, ‘yung mayroong sakit na hinang-hina na at kailangan talaga ng alalay papunta doon, babakunahan din po ‘yung kasama nila.”
The government’s Vaccine Cluster is expected to issue an official advisory regarding the new policy this week. However, Vergeire said some local government units are already implementing it.
In relation to this, the Department reported 3,691,663 individuals under the A2 category are fully vaccinated out of its target of 8,270,544, while 4,738,847 persons under A3 have received their second dose out of the 7,085,183 target.
The government aims to increase the number of the vaccinated amid the threat of the Delta variant, which is said to be one of the reasons for the present rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Report from Mark Fetalco/NGS- jlo
