Philippines starts vaccinating A4 essential workers

The Philippines has officially started the vaccination of essential workers under the A4 priority group on Monday, June 7, 2021.

Around 35.5 million essential workers are part of the A4 priority group, and Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. is optimistic that all will receive their first dose by September.

Manila's A4 vaccination rollout began on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in four malls, with each site allocated 750 doses.

Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso apologized for the limited number of vaccines available on the first day, stating the city had around 4,000 doses left for the first dose dedicated to the A4 group.

Walk-ins are allowed for the A4 vaccination in Manila, and the city also deployed second doses of Pfizer vaccines for A1, A2, and A3 priority groups.

Galvez stated that the vaccination of the A4 group will be divided into two subgroups, prioritizing those aged 40 and above, followed by those 39 years old and below.