No 'canvass' of personnel willing to get Covid-19 vax: AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 19, 2021): No 'canvass' of personnel willing to get Covid-19 vax: AFP (By Priam Nepomuceno)

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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said that it is not running a canvass on its personnel on whether or not they are willing to get inoculated with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines.

"We do not have a canvass as to who are willing to be vaccinated and who is not," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters.

Arevalo, however, added that as professional soldiers, they will simply get inoculated with government-approved vaccines to better perform their mandate.

"But we are mindful to give priority to the medical/health front-liners amongst us. That number constitutes around 25 percent of the entire AFP's strength," Arevalo said.

Among troops who would get the first shots of the Covid-19 jabs are those tasked to conduct security operations to protect the areas for vaccinations.

Also included are those involved in the delivery and transportation of these vaccines to the cold storage and vaccinations areas and those assigned to medical support operations.

Meanwhile, Arevalo said members of the Presidential Security Group who were earlier inoculated are all safe at the moment.

"We are pleased that PSG Personnel who have volunteered to be vaccinated in the pursuit of their mission to protect the President did not only perform a selfless act, they were also safe as an aftermath of the inoculation. No adverse side effects as we speak," he added.

Earlier, AFP chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said he is giving way for other sectors, especially front-liners, to get inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccines first before he himself gets vaccinated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131202