Philippine athletes and coaches bound for the Tokyo Olympics and the Southeast Asian Games will be included in the country's priority for COVID-19 vaccines, Malacañang said Friday.
The government's inter-agency task force on pandemic response has approved the recommendation to prioritize the COVID-19 vaccination of athletes, coaches, delegates, and officials joining the international games, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The Philippines is expected to send around 100 athletes for the Tokyo Olympics scheduled from July 23 to Aug. 8, according to the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
An estimated 1,500 athletes will be sent to Hanoi for the SEA Games from Nov. 21 to Dec. 2.
LPG retailers move up in priority list
The IATF, according to Roque, has also approved the inclusion of liquefied petroleum gas retailers in the vaccine priority list along with economic frontliners (A4), just behind persons with comorbidities (A3). The first two are health workers (A1) and senior citizens (A2).\
"Liquefied petroleum gas dealers, retailers and attendants now form part of the approved Priority Group A4.2 for vaccine deployment under the 'retail trade operators and frontliners'," Roque said.
Authorities have said that vaccination of economic frontliners could start by June.
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