The growing number of Covid-19 positive individuals yet again presents a challenge to our health care system. We are confronted with overburdened health care workers and with some hospitals already reaching critical levels of designated beds and facilities for Covid-19 patients.

As such, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) notes efforts to implement stricter community measures in Metro Manila, as well as in affected provinces, to help curb the rising transmission rate.

It is concerning, however, that there are reports of public personalities, government officials, and non-frontliners jumping the vaccination queue meant for health care workers.

As it stands, the Philippines has a limited number of vaccines allocated for medical frontliners. Individuals excluded from the priority list that jump the vaccination queue selfishly deprives health care workers of much-need vaccines and jeopardizes succeeding, agreed upon, free vaccine allocations from the COVAX facility, which calls for the priority inoculation of agreed upon groups. In this context, the Commission welcomes the move of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Health to investigate these cases to hold alleged violators to account.

We continue to stress that an effective national vaccination strategy is a vital component of an efficient national health care program, and is an important component of the equitable distribution of vaccines. In the continuing effort to address the severity of the current health situation, CHR urges the government to sustain its efforts on vaccine utilisation to prevent spoilage and to refrain from misleading comments that renege on previously agreed upon indemnity fund for vaccine side effects.

As vaccine doses are currently under Emergency Use Authorization, pharmaceutical companies can only sell vaccines to governments covered by an indemnification fund. Thus, we ask the government to better clarify and coordinate with the private sector the necessary requirements and expenses, should private companies wish to import their own dosages, to prevent bottlenecks in the procurement and distribution of vaccines in the country.

At the same time, we continue to remind the government that the pandemic is a health crisis and not a peace and order agenda. The ongoing pandemic is best addressed with effective practices anchored on public health. Measures meant to curb virus transmission should ultimately be mindful of human rights standards and acceptable limits of restrictions during a health crisis.

Protecting the right to health, which supports a life of dignity and quality, is part of the obligations of the state to its citizens. There are other challenges too that needs government attention, such as social welfare of the poorest of the poor in this critical time.

Following the restrictions of those part of ‘NCR Plus,’ we too ask the general public to continue following health precautions to protect themselves and their families; limit travels to only those that are essential; and remain vigilant against violations of human rights.

#Vaccines4All