IN a bid to hasten the country’s economic recovery, more workers including government and household employees will be included in the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases A4 vaccine priority list, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
Neda said the first phase of vaccine deployment for the expanded A4 group will be focused on approximately 13 million additional workers in priority areas since these areas make up majority of Covid-19 cases in the country.
Another 22.5 million workers will subsequently be included from areas outside priority areas or the National Capital Region (NCR) plus eight, bringing the total estimate to 35.5 million.
“There is a high demand for vaccines from the economic sectors. As we are expecting an increase in the supply beginning June 2021, we are now able to expand the list to protect more workers. Vaccinating them will also help safeguard their families, our health gains, and our economic recovery,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua.
Neda said the IATF recently expanded the A4 priority list to include employees in government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local government units (LGUs); informal sector workers and self-employed individuals who work outside their homes; and those working in private households.
This will allow more Filipinos to be vaccinated in NCR plus eight which includes Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. The government expects to increase the supply of vaccines starting next month.
Neda Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon said the stronger engagement with establishments, agencies and organizations (EAOs) is needed to facilitate vaccine deployment to the A4 priority groups and get us closer our target of inoculating 70 million adult Filipinos by year-end.
“We enjoin EAOs to work closely with us and help reach and vaccinate as many A4 group members as possible. The EAOs may organize vaccination of their A4-eligible workers in their offices or workplaces,” Edillon said.
The A4 group was initially focused on economic front liners and personnel who have high levels of interaction with the public, and are needed to ensure security and consumer and worker safety.
The IATF adopted Neda’s recommendation through Resolution No. 117. Neda cited data which showed that there is a high risk of exposure for workers living or working in areas with a dense population or dense economic activity.
This is the reason for the need to accelerate vaccination in NCR plus 8 areas and expand the list to include private sector workers who need to be physically present in their workplace.
Meanwhile, Neda said healthcare workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities—or those belonging to the A1, A2, and A3 groups, respectively—will continue to be prioritized for the vaccination program.
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