Galvez slams epal pols at vaccination sites

MANILA, Philippines — The National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 called out politicians and political groups for using the vaccination program for political interests, after receiving reports that tarpaulins and posters are being displayed at vaccination sites.

“We would like to emphasize that no individual or organization can take credit for the national vaccination program because it is the product of a whole of government, whole of society approach,” NTF policy chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said in an interview with ANC yesterday.

“This program should not be politicized in any way because its main objective is to protect our people against the disease … may this serve as a reminder to those who may have the intention of using our vaccine program for their political gain to stop such acts and instead use their time, energy and resources to help convince our fellow Filipinos to get the jab,” he added.

Galvez said the NTF is now working with the Department of Health and Department of the Interior and Local Government in monitoring such reports to take appropriate courses of action.

No favoritism

The NTF chief also shot down accusations that the national government had been favoring certain local government units in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Galvez explained that under the government’s “focus and expand” strategy, centers for health development (CHD) and vulnerable areas would be prioritized in distribution before expanding from there.

“We distribute vaccines to CHDs and what we call regional CHDs of the Department of Health, at the same time, in LGUs and mayors of highly urbanized areas,” Galvez said.

He likewise denied Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin’s claim that there was preferential treatment for some areas, accusing the lawmaker of wanting to have her own stash of vaccine doses “which isn’t right.”

“She is asking for allocation, (but) that will aggrieve other LGUs because she is not in the lineage of distribution. We will be burdened in accounting for those, and also in the administration (of vaccines),” Galvez said, adding that district representatives should not meddle in the vaccine rollout.

In response, Garin refuted the claims, saying: “This is not true and this is a big lie. What I am asking for is fair and equitable distribution of vaccines.”

The former health secretary revealed that Galvez admitted being hurt after being called out for what she described as preferential treatment in the vaccine rollout.

Johnson & Johnson jabs

Galvez also disclosed that the country expects over three million doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine to arrive this month from the COVAX Facility.

“All COVAX-donated vaccines will be used strictly to inoculate A2 and A3. Each region will receive at least 100,000 doses,” he said.

Galvez projected that by November, around 70 million Filipinos would have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. To reach this number, the country needs to inoculate 10 million Filipinos this month and 40 million by the end of September.

As of this week, Galvez said the country averages around 1.5 million vaccinations a week; while government aims for a 2 million-per-week rate once more vaccines arrive. — Edu Punay