BBM: Include essential workers in vaccine priority list
FORMER Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. suggested that essential workers, especially those who’re assigned in the food chain business and basic service utilities, must be included in the list for vaccine priorities.
“We categorized them as authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) and allowed them to go out for a living, that’s why we must have them vaccinated,” Marcos explained.
The former senator was reacting to reports that while there are local government units, particularly in urban centers, that have reached their vaccine rollout to category A4, or the essential workers, a bigger part of the essential industry manpower remained unvaccinated.
An earlier report by the Department of Health (DOH) said more than 28 million essential workers being targeted for vaccination, only a little less than two million have been vaccinated.
“ Kailangan din po nating isipin na marami sa mga essential workers ay nakatutok sa paghahanapbuhay at ang malaking bilang sa kanila ay arawan lang ang kita kaya hindi sila basta-basta makakapag-absent sa trabaho dahil mababawasan ang sweldo,” stressed the former senator.
He added that having them vaccinated will remove their fear of being infected with the coronavirus and dash away any hesitation to go out and work for the daily sustenance of their family.
“Malaking tulong kung magawan din ng paraan ng mga local government kung paano sila mapabakunahan sa kabila ng pagiging okupado ng kanilang oras sa trabaho,” said Marcos, adding that a “night shift” vaccine rollout may be a viable option to suit the “after work” schedule of the essential workers.
“Maaari po namang maglaan ang LGUs ng team na pwedeng magbakuna sa gabi pagkauwi ng mga essential workers mula sa kani-kanilang mga trabaho,” the former senator pointed out.
“But the bigger challenge here is the supply of vaccines. I just hope… and I strongly urge the IATF and our local government leaders to include the essential workers in the priority list when vaccine supplies become available ,“ Marcos said.
