Galvez proposes to vaccinate priority workers and indigent population by end of May

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. proposed to President Rodrigo Duterte to begin vaccinating priority workers and the indigent population by the end of May.

The Cabinet has approved the expansion of the COVID-19 vaccination program to essential workers and the indigent population, with vaccinations to commence after May or once there is a steady supply of vaccines.

This suggestion aims to expedite the vaccine rollout and utilize the millions of COVID-19 vaccines secured through the COVAX Facility.

Galvez emphasized that the COVAX Facility is designed to guarantee equitable vaccine access for the poor.

Opening vaccinations to categories A4 (priority workers) and A5 (indigent population) is a way to 'widen the funnel' of the vaccination program.

There are 12.8 million Filipinos workers under the A4 category and 16 million indigent Filipinos under the A5 category.

The Senate also recommended opening vaccinations to these categories to ensure that AstraZeneca vaccines do not expire before they can be administered.