THE Philippines stands to lose 44 million doses of COVID-19 from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVAX facility just because some elected local officials thought they’re entitled and as such should be the priority in the national vaccination against COVID-19.
“Jumping the line is wrong. Tama na po iyan. Iyong 44 million doses po natin na libre sa COVAX, mawawala kung hindi masusunod iyong priority,” says presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who issued the stern reminder echoing what President Rodrigo Duterte uttered in his weekly address aired last Monday.
Duterte warned that getting inoculated ahead of health workers, who are the first in the priority list, has consequences even if he said that it is a gray area since local officials boost vaccine confidence in people, apparently referring to the five mayors who have already received COVID-19 vaccines.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) identified them as mayors Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, Leyte; Dibu Tuan of T’boli, South Cotabato; Sulpicio Villalobos of Sto. Nino, South Cotabato; Noel Rosal of Legazpi City, Albay; and Abraham Ibba of Bataraza, Palawan.
“We ask for your indulgence. Huwag po kayo mag-jump ng line. A1 pa lang po tayo. Kayo pong local officials ay nasa A4,” Roque averred.
Interestingly, the mayors in separate statements don’t seem regretting what they have done and insisted that taking the first jab was meant to allay public apprehension regarding the vaccines.
The Philippines so far has only managed to get 1,525,600 doses donated via the WHO’s COVAX facility.