MANILA, Philippines — The government should consider placing sick and elderly prisoners higher in the COVID-19 vaccination priority list to avoid the disease’s spread in jailing facilities, Kapatid, a group of political prisoners’ relatives, said on Thursday.
In a letter to the Department of Health (DOH), Kapatid spokesperson Fides Lim pointed out that 96 of 683 political prisoners as of Jan. 2021 are sick with life-threatening illnesses while 58 are elderly, noting that two political prisoners have already passed away during the pandemic.
She cited the case of Jesus Alegre, 75, who was rushed to Ospital ng Muntinlupa this week for emergency diagnosis and treatment, and the case …
Keep on reading: Gov’t asked to elevate sick, elderly prisoners in COVID-19 vaccination priority list