Manila Bulletin
CHR slams as ‘selfish’ non-frontliners jumping COVID-19 vaccine queues
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) criticized individuals who bypassed the priority list for COVID-19 vaccination, stating that their actions selfishly deprived healthcare workers of essential protection and endangered the country's vaccine supply from the COVAX facility.
CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia highlighted the Philippines' limited vaccine supply, with only 1,525,600 doses received at the time of the statement.
She warned that jumping the queue jeopardizes future vaccine allocations from the COVAX facility, which is crucial for equitable distribution.
The World Health Organization had previously cautioned the Philippines about potentially losing its COVAX supply if the agreed-upon priority list was not adhered to.
The established priority list for vaccination includes frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens, and individuals with comorbidities.
Reports indicated that several mayors and a celebrity received vaccines ahead of healthcare workers, prompting investigations by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Health.
The CHR expressed support for these ongoing investigations into the individuals who violated the vaccination protocol.
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The Quezon City health department has denied allegations that police officers cut the line at a vaccination site, stating there was no preferential treatment given.
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