Filipino workers who are set to leave for work abroad are now part of the first priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, Malacañang announced Friday as the government refined policies for inoculation.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government's inter-agency task force on pandemic response reclassified outbound overseas Filipino workers to the A1 vaccine priority group composed of health workers.
"The IATF likewise re-categorized to Priority Group A1 outbound overseas Filipino workers for deployment within the next four months from the intended date of vaccination," Roque said.
Quarantine and isolation hotel and facility workers have also been reclassified to the A1 priority group.
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Initially, the first priority for COVID-19 vaccination was only health workers. But Roque on Friday said their immediate family members are now included in the A1 group too once vaccine supplies become available.
Local government units have been told to continuously prioritize health workers, senior citizens, and persons with comorbidities for COVID-19 vaccination with "special lanes" as the country prepares to expand its inoculation program to economic frontliners.
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