Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as part of A4 Priority Group, have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine today, June 14, 2021, at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, as the phased vaccination of uniformed personnel officially commenced.
“Bukas naman ang bakunahan ng ating kapulisan sa Camp Crame. Inaasahan natin na mismong ang hepe ng Pambansang Kapulisan General Guillermo Eleazar ang mangunguna sa bakunahan,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. at a press briefing in Malacañang today.
The Palace official reiterated that all vaccines against COVID-19 are free, and that getting only the first dose of a two-dose vaccine is not enough to get the optimum protection.
Secretary Roque, who sits as spokesperson of the Inter-Agency Task Force, also reminded the public to continue observing the minimum public health standards even if one has been vaccinated already.
“Dagdag proteksyon ito laban sa virus, lalo na sa bagong variants. Hangga’t hindi nababakunahan ang karamihan sa atin, mask, hugas, iwas pa rin tayo,” said Sec. Roque.
On updates in vaccine deliveries, Sec. Roque announced the arrival of 100,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccines on June 11, 2021, which he said is meant as component one or for first dose. Roque added that as of date, a total of 180,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines have arrived in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, of the 2,279,160 doses of Pfizer vaccines that arrived on June 10, 2021, a total of 210,600 doses each were distributed to Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, said Roque.
According to information from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, as of June 14, 2021, there are now 12,605,870 vaccine doses that have arrived in the Philippines, relayed Sec. Roque.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon also reported in the said press briefing that one million doses have been administered last week – the third straight week wherein more than a million doses have been administered. For week 15, Sec. Dizon said that the average number of jabs a day is 140,985.
On another matter, Sec. Dizon announced the arrival of participants to the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which will start on June 16. Dizon said the holding of the event – the first international sports event to be conducted since the pandemic – is proof of the country’s gradual reopening.
Still on economic reopening, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez explained in the same press briefing the process that gyms and other indoor sports and fitness venues have to go through to get the Safety Seal certification, as the Inter-Agency Task Force has allowed last week the reopening of such establishments.
Secretary Lopez said that establishments can apply for the Safety Seal certification online and request for an inspection of their facilities. In the case of gyms, inspection will be carried out by the local government units, said Sec. Lopez.
Meanwhile, Sec. Roque announced the decision of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on the testing and quarantine protocols in Cebu. “The President has decided that the IATF protocols must be implemented by the Cebu province. The last extension was just a preparation for full implementation of that decision. The President has also considered the DOH critique and has decided that Cebu province must abide with the IATF arrival protocols,” Roque said. ### OPS-PCOO
