The Supreme Court (SC) has authorized the purchase of P19 million worth of vaccines against corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) for its more than 30,000 officials and employees nationwide.

In line with the vaccine procurement protocols, Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta will coordinate with the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 and the Department of Health (DOH).

A statement issued by the SC’s public information office (PIO) stated that the purchase of the vaccines was approved by the justices during their full court session last January 26.

The purchase was recommended by the SC’s Office of Administrative Services and the Office of the Court Administrator.

The budget will come from the regular appropriations or savings of the SC, the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and the lower courts, the PIO said.

“The vaccination of all judiciary employees especially those in the lower courts will mean that our judges and their personnel, who have direct contact with litigants and lawyers on a daily basis, will be further protected….” it said.

“This in turn will ensure that our courts will be able to better function and serve the public during the pandemic,” it added.

At the start of COVID-19 in March last year, the SC devised ways to combat the spread of the disease.

“The Court immediately came out with appropriate guidelines as precautionary measure and created a Task Force led by Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez,” the PIO said.