Pres. Duterte on A4 vaccination in NCR plus 8: 'We can now see light at the end of the tunnel'

PASIG CITY, June 7 (PIA) -- President Rodrigo Roa Duterte today said the Philippines is beginning to see a glimmer of hope amid the COVID-19 public health emergency as more and more vaccine shipments have started to arrive in the country.

"We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel," Duterte said in his message during the ceremonial vaccination of economic workers or those under A4 priority to kickstart the government's massive COVID-19 jab rollout for the group.

According to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Managmement of Emerging Infectious Diseases, priority will be given to individuals included in the A4 priority group in the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao or the NCR plus 8.

The Philippine Government continues its mass vaccination against COVID-19 with the NCR+8 Commitment Ceremony and Symbolic Vaccination of A4 Priority Group at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Local chief executives from the NCR plus 8 join the commitment ceremony to heed the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in providing a quick and efficient mass rollout of the vaccination program to the A4 workers.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III administers COVID-19 jab to a frontline worker belonging to the A4 priority group. (RTVM screengrab)

Around 50 individuals from various sectors including education, tourism, transportation, mass
media, service and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry receive their first dose of the vaccine.

With more supplies of vaccines expected to arrive this month of June, the government aims to jumpstart the safe reopening of the economy and provide protection for individuals who work outside their homes and have high levels of interaction with the public, starting in areas with dense economic activity and high risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, according to President Duterte, he sees great hope that the COVID-19 problem will also end due to the continuous vaccination in the country.

“I am pleased to join you today as we mark a major milestone in our battle against Covid-19. We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccine shipments have arrived, have started to arrive in bulks. ”

The President further said that he believes vaccination is the answer to the pandemic.

The IATF added that they have simplified the A4 category to include all government and private sector workers, informal sector workers and those in private households who need to report to their jobs.

A4 has previously focused on economic frontliners and individuals who consistently face the public.

Workers between the ages of 40 and 59 are also considered as a priority under the A4 category.

As a result, the government has divided the vaccination rollout for the A4 category into two parts:

Phase 1: A4 workers in NCR+8 (Metro Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao

• A4.1 - private sector workers working in their office
• A4.2-employees in government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units
• A4.3-informal sector workers and self-employed working outside their homes and those working in private households

Phase 2: A4 workers outside NCR+8

• A4.1 - private sector workers working in their office
• A4.2-employees in government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units
• A4.3-informal sector workers and self-employed who work outside their homes and those who work in private households. (PIA NCR)