National athletes get jabs Friday

MANILA, Philippines — National team members competing in the Tokyo Olympics in July and the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in November will start to get their jabs on Friday at the Manila Prince Hotel.

“Approved na ang vaccination day, exclusive for SEA Games and Olympic-bound delegates Friday maghapon,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino during yesterday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

“Thanks to the national government, we expect maybe less than a thousand to get their jabs,” he added.

After host Vietnam announced its “no vaccine, no play” policy a week ago, the government was quick to act including Team Pilipinas members to the A4 priority list along with essential workers, frontliner government employees and uniformed personnel.

The Tagaytay congressman and PhilCycling chief said the inoculation, which is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is open to national athletes, coaches, officials and delegates including members of the Para team headed by Paralympic-bound swimmer Ernie Gawilan.

No less than Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and national COVID-19 vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Vince Dizon are attending the vaccination.