Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (File photo)
MANILA – Malacañang sought Tuesday the inclusion of media workers in the coronavirus disease 2019 (Cocid-19) vaccination priority list.
In an online press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he would propose that people working in the media industry fall under the “A4” category on the priority list of the government’s free vaccination program.
“Pinaglalaban pa rin po nating mapasama sa ‘A4’ ang media (We are still pushing for media’s inclusion in the ‘A4’ [priority group]),” Roque said.
He said the government has yet to release the final “A4” list because of several requests for various sectors to be part of the priority group.
“Hindi pa po tapos ang listahan ng A4 dahil nga po may mga issue pa gaya ng mga miyembro ng media kung mapapasama. So hintayin natin ang pinal na usapin tungkol dito (The “A4” list has yet to be finalized because of several issues, including the proposed inclusion of media members. So let us wait for the final decision),” he said.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar earlier saw the need for media workers to be prioritized in the rollout of Covid-19 vaccine, saying they should also be considered front-liners.
Under the government’s Covid-19 vaccination list, “A4” priority group is classified as front-line personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel.
The request to include local government units in the “A4” category was earlier approved.
On March 26, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III backed the proposal to elevate overseas Filipino workers from the “B5” category to the “A4” level.
The Department of Tourism, on the other hand, announced Tuesday that it requested for the inclusion of tour guides, operators, and other accredited workers and service providers in the “A4” vaccine priority list.
Medical front-liners top the list of the government’s vaccination program.
As of March 29, around 668,018 individuals have been vaccinated against Covid-19.
The government’s goal is to inoculate up to 70 million by year-end to achieve herd immunity. (PNA)
