Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 9) — Senator Francis Tolentino wants Filipino athletes to be included in the list of people to be prioritized for vaccination ahead of major international sports events
Tolentino made the remarks in a statement on Sunday as both amateur and professional athletes remain excluded in the A4 priority group in the national vaccination program, even as the Summer Olympics in Tokyo will happen in July and the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Hanoi, Vietnam later this year.
Among the Tokyo-bound athletes are gymnast Carlos Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena and boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.
Meanwhile, Tolentino said the country will be sending a total of 626 athletes to the SEA Games in Hanoi.
Last month, the Inter-Agency Task Force released the new and final list of the A4 priority group.
It now includes frontline workers in commuter transport, wet and dry markets, food service, news media, education, specific government agencies, and overseas workers. They will be vaccinated after the ongoing inoculation of senior citizens and people with co-morbidities.
In April, the Department of Health said the vaccination of frontline workers under the A4 priority group will have to wait until a set of guidelines is issued.
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In his statement, Tolentino said all Filipino athletes who have qualified for the Olympics must be inoculated immediately as the country is among those barred from entering Japan due to the spike in local COVID-19 infections.
Tolentino added that professional athletes, like those in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and other professional leagues, regardless of sports should likewise be included in the A4 Priority of IATF.
