More than 5,000 laborers, including Overseas Filipino Workers, are set to be inoculated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, during the Labor Day symbolic vaccination on May 1, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Thursday, April 29.
Galvez, who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force on COVID-19, said they have already set aside at least 5,000 doses that would be used during the 'Labor Day Symbolic Vaccination'. on Saturday, May 1.
He said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestro Bello III has already mobilized 3,000 OFWs who would be included in the program. Additional 2,000 low-income workers will also be included in the program.
"The low income earners include security guards, pedicab drivers and vendors. They will be vaccinated during the symbolic vaccination for Labor Day," said Galvez.
"Every year, we have been honoring our labor force for their contribution to the economy and this is a way of honoring them," he added.
He said the 5,000 workers mobilized by the DOLE are all from Metro Manila.
But he said that every regions will allocate 10-15 doses for workers in their respective regions.
Workers are under the A4 priority in the government's free vaccination.
So far, vaccination is on progress for healthcare workers (A1), senior citizens (A2) and persons with comorbidity (A3). Based on the government data, more than 1.8 million from the three priority lists were already inoculated.
Galvez, however, expressed confidence that the vaccination for A4 would start by July or August once the supply for COVID-19 vaccines stabilized through more deliveries.
Officials expect some three to four million deliveries of Sinovac and Sputnik/Gamaleya vaccines by first week of May this year while almost eight million doses of Moderna, Sinovac, Gamaleya/Sputnic, AStrazeneca and Pfizer are expected to arrive in June this year.