Mandaue workers cutting priority line to get booster shots?

CEBU, Philippines —  Some Mandaue City Hall employees are reportedly “cutting the line” to get booster shots against COVID-19.

They also claimed they are frontliners.

Based on the Department of Health’s order of prioritization, the general public is not yet eligible for booster vaccinations.

“The decision to offer booster doses to healthcare workers is still risk-based and its roll out to other priority groups will be implemented on a phased approach”.

After the healthcare workers, the seniors were given a go for the booster while immunocompromised individuals get additional doses.

Mandaue City’s vaccine czar Ernie Manatad in an interview with The FREEMAN said that among the City Hall employees, aside from their medical staff, allowed to get the boosters now are those under the Disasters and Risk Reduction Management responders.

“Mga medical and DRRM personnel, mao ra nay gitagaan og booster shots,” said Manatad.

An employee told The FREEMAN he already got the booster shot along with other “frontline” employees. The said employee also posted his new vaccination card online.

“That’s unconfirmed. I don’t have any knowledge about that,” said Manatad.

Manatad even said in jest that the information must have come from “Marites,” a popular meme for chismosas in the Philippines.

The Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC) Spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche also reiterated that A1, A2 and phase 1 of A3 are allowed to get an additional shot.

She said those who are not part of these groups are “violating the priority.”

However, Loreche admitted that it is difficult to actually penalize such act. — KQD (FREEMAN)