THE government said it will prioritize in the distribution of vaccines those areas with high COVID-19 case tally.
It is looking already at 10 areas to be given a premium such as the National Capital Region and the adjoining provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan, which topped the priority areas for vaccine distribution. Likewise included are Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Batangas, and Pampanga, says Malacañang.
These areas, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, will be receiving 38 to 42 percent of the COVID-19 shots allocated to them, adding that an order has been issued for the equitable distribution of the vaccines.
“Ibig sabihin, ang priority na po natin is Metro Manila Plus 8 Plus 10. Iyong Plus 10 areas are the areas na nakaka-experience po ngayon ng surges, so we hear you and they will be released, forthcoming po,” he said in a press briefing.
In a separate statement, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said that Plus 10 would include “surge areas in Region 6, Region 10, Region 9, Region 8, Region 11, CARAGA, Region 1 and 2, Region 3, Region 4, and Region 5.”
Nine cities and 12 provinces, including those in Visayas and Mindanao, are under the second strictest lockdown level at least until the end of June due to an uptick in coronavirus infections in their areas.
Since the vaccine rollout commenced on March 1, the government has only been able to distribute 14.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Of this figure 8.4 million have been administered – with 2 million Filipino completing the two doses.