Poll official cites need for their field personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19


An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said their field personnel need to be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said there is a need to immunize their field personnel as they are exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection everyday.

"Comelec field office workers, Election Officers & Election Assistants, who run #voterregistration centers, are exposed to the risk of COVID-19 infection everyday. These people need to be vaccinated," he said in his Twitter account @jabjimenez.

"On Election Day, electoral boards risk exposure the whole day," added Jimenez.

Voter registration is currently being held in all Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) nationwide from Mondays to Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Based on the vaccine priority list of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), the order of prioritization include frontline workers in health facilities; senior citizens aged 60 years old and above; persons with comorbidities; frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as essential; and indigent population.

Teachers and social workers; other government workers; other essential workers; socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk; overseas Filipino Workers; and other remaining workforce are next on the list.