Comelec says putting vax sites near polling centers might 'mislead' voters (Sabong News)
Author
Dhel Nazario
Date
MAY 03 2022
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday, May 3, that the plan to put vaccination sites near polling precincts on election day on May 9 must be carefully studied.
“This might mislead our voters on the belief that vaccination is needed for the exercise of the right of suffrage,” he said.
He added that the Department of Health (DOH) must first secure an approval from the Comelec especially if it will be done inside a voting center.
In a continued effort to vaccinate more people against Covid-19, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Monday, May 2, that they are discussing a possible move to put vaccination sites near voting centers.
“Pinag-uusapan itong paglalagay ng vaccination sites sa ating voting centers (Putting up vaccination sites in voting centers is still being discussed),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the DOH media briefing.
“Pero sa tingin ko mukhang mas makakadagdag pa sa crowding doon sa lugar ng botohan (It think we might add to the crowding in the voting centers). Although we can set up a place near the polling precinct,” she added.
Vergeire stated that they can put the vaccination site in a building situated beside the polling precinct. She said that the matter is still being discussed by the DOH and the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC).
