Better rethink any plan to fake a chronic illness to get ahead in the free vaccine line.
Malacañang is counting on the country's doctors to help ensure the list of persons with comorbidity who are entitled to the free coronavirus vaccines will be free of fraud.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, doctors are unlikely to lie about the health condition of their patients when issuing medical certificates to facilitate their vaccination.
Persons with comorbidity or those with pre-existing chronic diseases are now ranked third in the list of priority groups in the government's immunization program. The list of priority recipients has been expanded by the government pandemic task force ahead of the arrival of the supplies this month.
"Talagang napakainit po ng balitaktakan diyan, kasi nga may mga nagsasabi na kapag pinayagan iyong may comorbidities maraming mandaraya para lang mauna sa pila. Sabi ko naman, pagtiwalaan naman siguro ang ating mga doktor na mag-iisyu ng certificate na hindi naman sila magsisinungaling, dahil talaga namang mataas ang respeto natin sa ating mga doktor (There was a very heated discussion on the matter because some said when we allow those with comorbidities, many might cheat to get ahead in the line. But I said, let's trust our doctors to issue the certificates. They will not lie because we really have high respect for our doctors)," he said over DZBB Sunday, Feb. 7.
Roque explained that persons with comorbidity such as diabetes and heart disease are among the priority recipients since they are vulnerable to contracting the new coronavirus disease.
"Talagang ipinaglaban ko po iyan, kasi alam naman natin na sang-ayon sa siyensiya hindi lang matatanda ang vulnerable dito sa sakit na ito, eh kasama rin iyong mga may comorbidities (I really fought for that because we know that based on science, it is not just the old people who are vulnerable to the coronavirus illness. Those with comorbidities are also at risk)," he said.
Frontline workers in health facilities and senior citizens will be the first and second recipients of the free vaccines from the government. The revised list of beneficiaries include frontline essential personnel such as uniformed forces, poor citizens, teachers and social workers, overseas Filipino workers, other workers, and the rest of the Filipino population.
Roque also said media workers are likely to be included in the priority group of essential workers.
He noted that the "economic frontliners" are those working in industries allowed to operate during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Media companies continued operations even though the government enforced a strict lockdown last year.
"Iyong sinasabi ninyo siguro iyong mga economic frontliners, ito kasi iyong mga industriya na hindi sarado noong ECQ at kasama doon sa hindi sarado ay iyong mga news. ‘Di ba po, naalala ninyo ano, na maski ECQ kayo ay bukas? Ang basa ko po diyan, kasama sa listahan o pinayagang bukas habang mayroong ECQ ay kasama po doon sa magkakaroon ng prayoridad (You're referring to the economic frontliners. These are the industries that did not shut down during ECQ and among them is the news. Do you remember that despite the ECQ, you were open? My These are the economic frontliners. I understand that those allowed to operate during ECQ will be include in the priority group)," he added.
More than a hundred million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been secured by the government in a bid to protect Filipinos from the deadly illness. So far, the Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use approval for vaccines developed Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
The government aims to inoculate around 70 million Filipinos to achieve herd immunity.