The national government has now approved the inoculation of all national athletes even if they will not join this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino said on Monday.

“This is another great news for our national athletes and all of the Philippine sports,” Tolentino said.

The vaccination will take place in the next round of inoculation, which includes the SEA Games-bound athletes who missed out on the first mass vaccination on Friday at the Manila Prince Hotel.

More than half of the 730 athletes got their Sinovac shots last Friday.

Tolentino said the vaccination program will be extended to every athlete regardless of whether they will join the SEA Games or not.

“We thank the government for putting priority on our athletes and coaches for the vaccine rollout,” Tolentino said. “And this—the absolute vaccination of all national athletes—whether or not they are going to Hanoi—is a relief for Philippine sports.”

The POC will announce the date and the venue of the next vaccination round at a later date. (PNA)