By NG Seruela
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reiterated in his public address on Wednesday night that the priority list provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the first jab of the donated AstraZeneca vaccine must be strictly followed and implemented.
In his second address this week, he pointed out that the WHO designated groups of people to be vaccinated first, following reports of some individuals “jumping the line” in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program.
“But apparently this was not complied strictly. Ang mahirap nito, ang nagbigay ang WHO, ‘yong Covax, eh donated ‘yan. So tinanggap natin [What’s problematic here is that Covax under WHO donated (the vaccines). So we accepted it] knowing fully well that we have to honor the conditions attached thereto.”
President Duterte said many health workers are outraged over the incident, adding that he feared their anger was caused by some individuals’ non-compliance with the priority list.
“I understand fully well the psyche of the Filipino. We want to please everybody, especially friends…That’s the penchant of Filipinos,” he said.
The Chief Executive then reminded the public that the priority groups for vaccination are healthcare workers, senior citizens aged 60 and above, persons with comorbidities, frontline personnel in essential sectors, uniformed personnel, and the working sector.
These are followed by teachers, social workers, government workers, socio-demographic groups with significantly higher risk than other citizens, indigenous people, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the remaining workforce, and the rest of the Filipino population not included in these groups.
“Ngayon dito marami na wala sa listahan [Now, there were many not included in the priority list], not in the priority and were given the vaccines. Nandito ‘yong mga pangalan, hindi ko na lang basahin [Their names are here but I won’t read them]. I will just let the Department of Health deal with you sa panahong pagkatapos nito [after this],” the President warned.
