"No one will be secure until everyone is secure."
This was what the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said as it called for equal access and distribution of vaccines among Filipinos, regardless of their social background, geographical location, and age.
CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana said that the government should ensure that there will be no inequality in access to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.
A growing number of highly resourced local governments in the urban centers and metropolitan areas are already lining up to gain immediate and priority access to COVID-19 vaccines.
While these local governments only want the best for their constituents, Pimentel-Gana said the national government should make sure that vaccines are also made accessible for Filipinos in far-flung areas where there are known clusters of infected residents.
"There may be local government units with a host of infected residents who may not have resources to urgently procure vaccines," she said. "The national government must step in to maintain balanced access to the COVID-19 vaccines."
To ensure that the vaccine distribution initiative is successful, the CHR said that the government should ensure that it is done in a rapid, coordinated, and equitable manner.
"An effective national vaccine rollout means a vaccine is made available to one living in urban Manila in about the same time to one recipient based in Sulu," said Pimentel-Gana.
If the government cannot fully roll out a comprehensive vaccination for all Filipinos in one go, Pimentel-Gana said it must work hard for "progressive realization." This means that the government should demonstrate that it is taking steps to mobilize all of its available resources in order to immediately comply with the nationwide vaccination program.
"An effective national vaccination strategy is a vital component of an efficient national health care program, and an undeniable human right," she stressed.