WITH the support and approval of the government, the Philippine Olympic Committee will begin its vaccination program for the country’s participants to the Tokyo Olympic Games and 31st Vietnam Southeast Asian Games at the Manila Prince Hotel this Friday.
“Thanks to the support of our national government, the POC vaccination rollout will begin this Friday,” POC president and Tagaytay Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum yesterday.
“This is very positive because our request with the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force in charge of the COVID-19 pandemic) last May 18 to prioritize our delegates to the Olympics and Southeast Asian Games for vaccination has already been approved,” Tolentino said.
He said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Gen. (ret.) Carlito Galvez and his deputy, Vince Dizon, are set to attend the vaccination program that will begin at 9 a.m. at the hotel that is a stone’s throw away from Adamson University.
Tolentino declined to disclose the brand of jabs the athletes and officials will get, but repeated the popular consensus among medical frontliners “that (the) best vaccine is the one that is available.”
“We expect that around 500 to 600 people who will take part in the Olympics and the SEA Games will be vaccinated,” Tolentino said in the public sports program supported by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., San Miguel Corp, Smart, Milo, Amelie Hotel and Braska Restaurant.
In coordination with the Department of Health and the IATF, other athletes and coaches who are out of Metro Manila and have resumed actual training would be vaccinated in their respective locations, according to Tolentino.
“We have a master list of these athletes and coaches at the POC and we also expect to vaccinate those training outside of the country for the Olympics and SEA Games once they return here,” he said, adding the rollout is huge load off the shoulders of POC first vice president and basketball head Al Panlilio.
“Al no longer needs to wait for the procurement of the POC for vaccines since sinagot na ng gobyerno ito.”
Tolentino said the vaccination of the country’s Vietnam SEA Games participants is in keeping with the “no vaccination, no participation” policy” of the Vietnamese government that was disclosed during its recent SEA Games Federation virtual meeting.
The Hanoi games are set on Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, with Pinoy athletes set to see action in 39 events.
“This is the policy of their (Vietnamese) government so we cannot change that,” said Tolentino, who renewed his appeal to the SEA Games hopefuls to get vaccinated for their own personal protection and in the spirit of patriotism.
“We urge everyone who wants to participate in the SEA Games to get vaccinated for their own good and for the good of the country. Sayang naman kung hindi sila mababakunahan at hindi makakasali because of the Vietnam policy,” he said. “Kaya sasabak talaga tayo sa SEA Games.”
Vaccination is not required in the Tokyo Olympics, set July 23 to Aug. 8, as reiterated by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach.
The Philippines so far has nine athletes set to compete in Tokyo.
Tolentino encouraged all members of the Philippine team who have qualified for both international meets, including para athletes, to have themselves inoculated.
Tolentino also revealed that Baguio City and Cavite have expressed interest in allowing national athletes and coaches gearing up for the Vietnam SEA Games to train in a bubble-type environment.
“Baguio is willing to accommodate some of our national athletes while the province of Cavite through the help of Gov. Jonvic Remulla is also interested in having around 100 athletes for bubble training,” he said.
