The Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 (HPAAC) called on the private sector to follow the COVID-19 vaccine priority list set by the government.
The group made the call amid reports that several private companies and local government units already secured COVID-19 vaccines.
“Mauuna ‘yung mga may kaya at mahuhuli ‘yung wala… Hindi po uubra ang layunin ng ating vaccination program. Maiiwan po ‘yung talagang nangangailangan ng bakuna,” Dr. Antonio Dans said at a news conference.
- A1: Frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.
- A2: Senior citizens aged 60 years old and above
- A3: Persons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories
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A4: Frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases as essential during an enhanced community quarantine
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A5: Indigent population not otherwise included in the preceding categories
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B1: Teachers, social workers
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B2: Other government workers
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B3: Other essential workers
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Follow COVID-19 vaccine priority list – HPAAC
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B4: Socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigenous people
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B5: Overseas Filipino Workers
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B6: Other remaining workforce
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C: Rest of the Filipino population not otherwise included in the above groups
“‘Wag sana tayong mag-unahan. Hindi dapat according to capacity to pay. Dapat according to exposure, risk, need, and capacity,” Dans urged.
The HPAAC also noted that COVID-19 vaccines must be “rationed” as the world grapples with a scarcity of vaccine supply.
“Hindi naman natin sinasabing hindi sila babakunahan. Ang sinasabi lang, hindi pa ngayon kasi uunti pa ang supply,” Dr. Anna Ong-Lim said. “Kahit hindi ka nabakunahan, kung ‘yung mga pinaka-high risk ay natututukan natin, magkakaroon ‘yan ng positive impact.”
Dr. Aileen Espina also urged Filipinos to “call out anyone who’s cutting the line” for vaccines.
“Ito po ay panahon ng pagpaparaya… Isipin natin, mas meron pong makikinabang sa bakuna kesa sa atin,” she said.