Priority population groups for COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines presented

The Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (iNITAG) adopted the following priority population groups for vaccination:

A1: Frontline workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and non-professionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc.
A2: Senior citizens aged 60 years old and above
A3: Persons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories
A4: Frontline personnel in essential sectors including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as essential during ECQ
A5: Indigent population not otherwise included in the preceding categories
B1: Teachers, Social Workers
B2: Other Government Workers
B3: Other essential workers
B4: Socio-demographic groups at significantly higher risk other than senior citizens and indigenous people
B5: Overseas Filipino Workers
B6: Other Remaining Workforce
C: Rest of the Filipino population not otherwise included in the above groups

The iNITAG also underscored that any specific inclusion and exclusion criteria of each vaccine, as reflected in the respective Emergency Use Authorization of the Food and Drug Administration, or recommendations from the Health Technology Assessment Council shall be considered.

In choosing areas for sub-prioritization, it will be based on (1) COVID-19 burden of disease (these are the current active cases, attack rate per 100,000 population in the past 4 weeks, and population density); and (2) vaccination site and/or Local Government Unit readiness, particularly, its supply chain capability.

With regard to the allocation of the first tranche of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for healthcare workers, this will be the allocation framework to be followed: a) COVID-19 dedicated hospitals, b) COVID-19 referral hospitals, c) DOH-owned hospitals, d) LGU hospitals, e) hospitals for uniformed services/personnel, and f) private hospitals.