By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Athletes bound for the Southeast Asian Games and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players will receive COVID-19 booster shots courtesy of the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF).
500 booster shots of the Moderna vaccine were confirmed to be allotted for those who will fly to Hanoi, Vietnam from May 12-23 and another 500 will also be donated to the PBA.
MVPSF President Al S. Panlilio headed the procurement of the vaccines and is also in charge of the Philippine Olympic Committee’s (POC) vaccination for athletes’ program.
Meanwhile, for the PBA, former POC president and member of the league’s board Ricky Vargas initiated the drive.
“This is our early commitment to the POC, and the moment all documents have been completed by the delegation members, they’ll immediately get their booster shots,” said Panlilio.
The vaccination drive was initiated due to the SEA Games organizing body’s implementation of the “no vaccine, no play” rule in Hanoi.
A total of 626 athletes have been confirmed by the POC to represent the Philippines but some already had their booster shots as per POC President Bambol Tolentino.
“It’s absolutely a big help. Some of the athletes I think already got their booster shots, so for those who will not make it, we will shoulder it in Tagaytay City,” said Tolentino.
Aside from the SEAG-bound and PBA athletes, Tolentino also shared that a portion of the vaccines will be intended for the participating group in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from September 10-25.
