This was the advice of the Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH 7) to local government unit (LGU) officials after some mayors in Bohol and Cebu were vaccinated ahead of their turn.
Victoriano "Dong" Torres, mayor of Alicia town, Bohol on Tuesday announced through Facebook page that he got his first dose of the vaccine.
The mayor said some village chiefs from the town were also vaccinated.
"Got my first dose of COVID-19 vaccine together with my friend barangay captains of barangay Cabatang, Progreso, Cayacay, Untaga and Napo," Torres said in his Facebook post.
The post accompanied photos of him being injected with a still unnamed vaccine.
A report by Bohol-based newspaper, The Bohol Chronicle, said Mayor Arturo Piollo II of Lila town, Bohol was also vaccinated with Sinovac last Monday, March 22.
Piollo said he agreed to be vaccinated to encourage others and that he asked permission from DOH-7 director Jaime Bernadas for his inoculation.
Also last March 17, the mayor of San Miguel town in Bohol, Virgilio Mendez, posted a video of him receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
"I am a municipal mayor, a senior citizen, and I believe in vaccination," read the caption of Mendez's video post.
In Cebu, Minglanilla Mayor Elanito Peña was also vaccinated with AztraZeneca last Tuesday.
Peña told reporters in a teleconference that he was qualified to receive the vaccine being the chief of the town’s Anti-Covid Task Force.
"It’s okay because I am as well a frontliner. I meet our COVID team regularly and I deal with lot of people," said Peña.
Peña said he consulted with the some members of the task force that included doctors and they agreed that he too should be vaccinated.
The mayor joined at least 100 healthcare workers during Tuesday’s vaccination in the town.
When sought for comment, Loreche urged LGU officials to follow the priority list.
"We enjoin our local officials and all other members of the various sectors that are not yet in the priority listing to patiently wait," said Loreche. "Soon, it will be your turn and let us all fall in line in order not to jeopardize our vaccination program."
Loreche said mayors are not scheduled to receive vaccines yet.
"If we are to base on the priority listing as mandated by the guidelines, the subgroup A states medical healthcare front liners," said Loreche.
Loreche said it is up to the concerned agency if sanctions will be slapped against those LGU who received the vaccines ahead of their schedule.
"The DOH only implements the vaccination based on the priority listing and oversee as well as monitor adverse events. As to the sanctions for violations, it is up to the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) to determine such as the LGUs are under the DILG," Loreche said.