There could be a huge health risk if certain close contact campaign activities such as large gatherings will be allowed for next year's elections, according to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. 

Galvez made the observation ahead of his planned discussion with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on its proposed ban face-to-face campaigning for the 2022 elections while the country battles the coronavirus pandemic.   The retired military general currently serves as chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19

"Yun ang tatalakayin natin with the Comelec kasi talagang nakikita natin na malaki 'yung challenge at risk 'yung magkakaroon ng mga face-to-face na crowd gathering (That will be discussed with the Comelec because we really see the huge challenge and risk of face-to-face crowd gatherings)," Galvez said during the Laging Handa public briefing Wednesday.

"Nakikita natin na 'yung pagkakampanya will enhance yung close contact with different people...tumatawag na rin ang comelec and we will discuss this later (We see the campaigning will enhance close contact with different people. Comelec has reached out and we will discuss this later)," he added.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez recently disclosed that the poll body was thinking of prohibiting face-to-face campaigning due to the lingering threat of the coronavirus illness.

Jimenez, in a  television interview Tuesday, said door-to-door campaigning might be regulated or even prohibited. Online campaigning may instead be promoted to limit close contact between the candidate and the voters.

Under the government's regulations, mass gatherings such as movie screenings, concerts, sporting events and  other entertainment activities, community assemblies, and non-essential work gatherings are prohibited in areas under general community quarantine.

Exempted from the ban are gatherings related to critical government services and humanitarian activities subject to compliance with minimum health standards. Religious gatherings in GCQ areas are also allowed up to 30 percent of the seating capacity provided such assembly is limited to religious worship and/or service.

The government meantime allows limited mass gatherings in areas under MGCQ, the most relaxed of the four lockdown levels imposed by the state to curb the transmission of coronavirus. 

Mass gatherings, on the other hand, are allowed in areas under least restrictive modified general community quarantine (MGCQ). Such gatherings are permitted provided that participants shall be limited to 50 percent of the seating or venue capacity.