Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat hailed the government's decision to expand the vaccination rollout to the next priority group, which is the A4 cluster.
"We at the DOT welcome this decision to include the A4 cluster among those prioritized for vaccination. There is no other way to ensure the sector's survival and recovery but to vaccinate every tourism frontliner," Puyat said on Wednesday, May 19.
The A4 group, which is fourth on the priority list of the government’s national vaccination program, covers essential workers including those in the tourism industry, as well as frontliners in national government offices, and uniformed personnel.
The tourism industry workers include commuter transport workers, employees of hotels and other accommodation establishments, and restaurant employees.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. announced on Tuesday, May 18, the approval of the National Task Force Against COVID-19's (NTF) recommendation to start the vaccination of the A4 cluster "after May or when we will have a steady supply of the vaccine".
Meanwhile, the tourism chief said they are still waiting for the government's decision on their
proposal to include tour guides, tour operators, and other accredited workers and service providers in the group of prioritized tourism workers.
On Labor Day, May 1, some 150 frontline employees of quarantine and non-quarantine accommodation establishments were inoculated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during a symbolic vaccination of laborers.
The DOT said that a total of 1,612 employees of quarantine hotels have been vaccinated so far.