MANILA – The government is considering to begin the distribution of Covid-19 booster shots to priority sectors before the national and local elections in May 2022.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19, stated that acquiring reformulated booster shots for use by those vulnerable sectors, especially healthcare professionals, is part of the government’s second phase of vaccine procurement.
“Pinaplano na rin po natin ‘yung ano pagdating po ng eleksyon na kailangan by February, matapos na po tayo lahat-lahat or at least 90 percent (We are also planning to finish the inoculation of at least 90 percent by February or before the elections),” Galvez reported to President Rodrigo Duterte during prerecorded Talk to the People on Wednesday night.
The government is currently preparing to purchase next-generation vaccine boosters, which will increase the efficacy of the Covid-19 shots in combating developing coronavirus variants.
“Before the election, at least ‘yung mga dapat mag-boosters, makapag-boosters na rin po. Before election dapat protektado na po lahat ang mga Pilipino (Before the elections, at least those who should be given booster shots, will get their booster shots. Everyone should be protected before the elections),” Galvez said.
Galvez previously stated that the government is in negotiation with four firms about acquiring reformulated booster shots.
He added that preliminary agreements for the second wave of vaccine purchase have been achieved with the government’s multilateral partners, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
The government has originally budgeted USD45 million (about PHP2.2 billion) for vaccine supply in 2022.
