Pinoy athletes await vaccine

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez is hoping that national athletes gearing up for major international competitions this year would be among the next to be vaccinated after the frontliners.

The firtst batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the country last Sunday. Frontliners from the medical field and the Armed Forces were first to receive the initial doses.

“We are hoping that vaccination will be made available soon (for national athletes),” said Ramirez.

The PSC chief had written vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. as early as last month requesting that those training for the Tokyo Olympics in July and Hanoi SEA Games in November be given priority.

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero, a SEA Games medalist in polo, filed a bill late January on behalf of the national athletes.

Sen. Bong Go has repeatedly expressed his full support to the national athletes.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino said business tycoon Enrique Razon had promised to give vaccines to the national athletes for free.

President Duterte welcomed last Sunday a total of 600,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine donated by China.