Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) may be allowed to pick western-made novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines in the government’s inoculation program.
National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vivencio “Vince” Dizon made the assurance during the ceremonial vaccination of 1,200 to 2,000 seafarers in Manila on Thursday.
He noted that no less than President Rodrigo R. Duterte gave the instruction to the NTF to provide the said option to OFWs since some host countries may refuse to recognize non-western Covid-19 vaccines.
By providing OFWs with the vaccine preference of their host countries, the government hopes to secure their employment.
Dizon said OFWs may get their preferred vaccine brand at the nearest vaccine enters provided they are able to present documents proving they will be deployed within four months from inoculation.
He added the vaccines they would be provided with will depend on what is currently available their respective local government units (LGU) of concerned OFWs.
Currently, recruitment and manning agencies are coordinating with LGUs to make it more convenient for the mass vaccination of OFWs.
Dizon noted the NTF is now finalizing the procurement of additional Western brand vaccines such as Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson to help ensure OFWs will have sufficient supply of the said jabs.
Read full article on BusinessMirror
