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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Tolentino makes case for holding May 9 polls and vaccinations at the same time

Tolentino makes case for holding May 9 polls and vaccinations at the same time

Published Apr 28, 2022 10:58 am

Senator Francis Tolentino strongly suggested Thursday, April 28 to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) that they hold the May 9 elections and Covid-19 vaccinations at the same time.

This would afford millions of voters the chance to be vaccinated before or after casting their votes on May 9, a holiday, he said.

Tolentino said the DOH and IATF should also offer a second booster shot to persons eligible as those with comorbidities have been given priority. Very few in this priority group were reported to have gone to vaccination centers.

Other countries authorize a second booster shot within a few months because the efficacy of the first booster shot wanes as time goes by.

Authorities fear a surge in Covid-19 infection after the elections.

DOH and IATF authorities have admitted that the country has a stockpile of vaccines--some 27 million doses--that are due to expire in June to July this year.

Last year, Philippine authorities lamented over the loss of a few hundred doses of vaccines when a boat capsized in Quezon province.

But now, officials’ strict stance appear to have weakened although millions of vaccine doses are now about to expire, critics have pointed out.

The government will have to pay billions of pesos worth of loans that were used in buying the vaccines even if they expire.

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