Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Friday, April 23, appealed to the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to finalize the detailed guidelines to be followed by those who are listed in the A4 category of the COVID-19 vaccine priority list.
“We know that the IATF has already approved the framework of A4 category in our priority list and what sectors are included. However, I am calling on them to clarify further the guidelines as to who really, within the sectors mentioned in A4 category, that has to come first in the priority, and how sure that those to be vaccinated can be vaccinated in a proper and safe way in the different parts of the country),” Go said in Filipino.
The administration senator and chairman of the Senate health committee praised the government for its efforts to accelerate the vaccine rollout for those belonging in A1 to A3 categories, particularly health frontliners, senior citizens, and those with comorbidities.
He, however, raised concern that as the vaccination program reaches a bigger segment of the population, more preparations must be done to ensure a seamless and efficient rollout nationwide.
“We have to ensure that the distribution of the vaccines is fast and systematic, especially now that there are more highly contagious variants that have been detected. While we want to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we can, we still need to ensure their health and safety while they are in the process of getting vaccinated,” he said.
He told the IATF, Department of Health (DOH), NEDA, and other relevant authorities to communicate the guidelines "in a clear and simplified manner" to avoid confusion and overcrowding in vaccination centers.
Last Thursday, April 15, the IATF had issued the updated list of sectors included in Priority Group A4. The list now includes essential workers from the education, government services, manufacturing, market, media, and transportation sectors or industries.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon disclosed during a recent media briefing that the schedule of the next phase of the vaccine rollout has yet to be finalized.
Depending on the availability of the vaccines, the government expects to begin inoculating members of the A4 priority group by June or July, if not May at the earliest.