PASAY CITY -- As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to local government units and concerned national agencies to fast-track and streamline the country’s COVID-19 vaccination database. According to Go, this will ensure accuracy of data regarding the vaccination efforts and so that fully vaccinated individuals can secure vaccine certifications immediately.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is taking the lead in managing the Vaccine Administration System (DVAS), which forms part of VaxCertPH’s Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS).

“Hinihimok ko ang mga LGUs na bilisan ang kanilang proseso ng pagsubmit ng kanilang vaccination data sa DVAS,” said Go.

“Layunin po nito na pabilisin at gawin sentralisado ang lahat ng datos ng mga nabakunahan sa bansa. Alinsunod din po ito sa polisiya ng World Health Organization,” he added.

The WHO finalized the guidance and technical specifications for immunization certificates on July 27, 2021.

The WHO proposed using digital vaccination certificates, which document a person's current vaccination status, as a mechanism for digitally documenting a person's COVID-19-related health data via an electronic certificate for use in continuity of care or as proof of vaccination for non-health-care purposes.

Pursuant to the WHO guidelines, the government established VaxCertPH, a mobile application used to issue vaccination certifications for vaccinated individuals. Essentially, the data given by LGUs is stored in the VIMS, which was developed by the DICT for the Department of Health.

In light of this, the DICT is currently focused on educating operators or users from various LGUs on correct data entry in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases' directions, in order to reduce the risks of data-related errors on the certification site.

"Layunin natin dito ay maging mabilis ('yung sistema). Kailangan we are one step or several steps ahead of the virus. Ang inyong DICT ay technical support,” DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II said.

LGUs are also receiving guidelines from DICT on how to handle data rectification requests from its vaccinees. In particular, mayors of Metro Manila are now working with the DICT on a digital vaccine certificate project.

Mayor Edwin Olivarez of Paranaque said in a radio interview that local government units have begun sending their names of vaccinated residents to the agency.

Notably, the DICT and the Department of Interior and Local Government signed a Joint Memorandum Circular on July 23, 2021, requiring LGUs to submit Line Lists of vaccinated individuals via DVAS.

Go emphasized that it is important for LGUs and concerned national agencies to adopt and utilize the VDAS in the submission of line list of vaccinated individuals.

“Our goal is to streamline the country's vaccine registration process in order to accelerate national immunization efforts. We must be proactive in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and adapting to the new normal,” added Go.

He stressed that this mechanism will also fast-track the provision of vaccine certificates for fully vaccinated individuals, especially those who need to present such for travel and work purposes.

“Siguraduhin nating may acceptable na pruweba o certifications ang mga nabakunahan lalo na yung mga kailangang bumyahe para makapagtrabaho,” he said.

“Kapag marami nang bakunado sa ating komunidad at bumaba na ang kaso ng mga may sakit, maaari na pong luwagan ang mga restrictions at makapagbubukas na muli ang ibang mga industriya. Dadami na ulit ang trabaho at lalago na muli ang kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino. Iyan po ang gusto nating marating ngayong taon,” he explained.

Go explained that once population protection is achieved through vaccination, and communities eventually reach herd immunity, more economic sectors can open and prosper towards achieving full recovery.

“Kaya pakiusap ko po, suportahan natin ang vaccination program at magtiwala tayo sa bakuna dahil ito ang susi upang makabalik tayo sa normal na pamumuhay. Kapag panahon niyo na para magpabakuna, huwag nang mag-alinlangan pa,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, Go has been pushing for the use of technology to make government processes and transactions faster, more transparent, and efficient. He filed Senate Bill No. 1738, or the “E-Governance Act of 2020,” which mandates the government to establish an integrated, interconnected, and inter-operable information and resource-sharing and communications network.

During the recent State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte, he also emphasized that an e-governance measure be prioritized. This aims to cut red tape, eradicate corruption, improve transparency, offer safe and convenient service delivery to Filipinos, and promote public input and involvement.

Since the country's nationwide vaccination program began in March, a total of 26.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, as of August 12. Some 14.5 million of these were given as first doses, while 12.2 million were given as second doses.

Meanwhile, the country has received a total of 42.1 million vaccines so far. An additional 575,800 AstraZeneca doses and 15,000 Sputnik doses arrived on August 13. (OSBG)