Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are now included under Priority List A4 of the national vaccination program, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) confirmed.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) earlier decided to consider OFWs as essential workers. OFWs were previously included under Priority List B3.
“Ayon sa pagkakaalam namin around May this year sisimulan yung A4… Lahat, basta OFWs, whether returned or departing [Based on what we know, the A4 vaccination may take place around May this year… All OFWs, whether returned or departing],” OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said.
Meanwhile, the Philippines now has a policy which requires receiving labor countries to shoulder the vaccination of OFWs who will be deployed to their area.
OWWA clarified that OFWs will have the option on whether they will be vaccinated abroad or in the Philippines. – Report from Louisa Erispe/AG-jbb
