PASAY CITY -- Senator Win Gatchalian pressed for the establishment of a centralized database system of all fully-vaccinated individuals for better monitoring especially in the wake of reports that some residents had booster shots even with the limited supply of vaccines in the country.
Gatchalian also proposed the inclusion of those whose inoculation were shouldered by the private sector or private employer-companies.
“Dapat matagal na itong centralized database dahil dito natin makikita kung merong nag-doble sa pagpapabakuna. Hindi natin maiiwasan minsan na merong ilan na hindi lang isa ang address. Nakakalungkot na merong nananamantala ng sitwasyon. ‘Yung iba, nagpabakuna na sa isang LGU tapos nagpabooster shot pa sa ibang LGU. Kung may centralized database tayo, mabilis at maiiwasan ang ganitong pananamantala lalo na’t marami pa ang hindi nababakunahan,” the senator said.
Gatchalian noted that under the tripartite agreement that the private sector entered into with the government that allowed them to procure anti-COVID-19 vaccines, private sector companies are required to submit a list of vaccinated individuals for monitoring purposes.
The senator said this should be merged with the vaccine administration system of the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) for the planned digital or unified vaccine certificates for fully-vaccinated individuals.
“Gawin nang uniform ng DILG at DOH ang mga vaccination cards para nakahanda na tayo kapag naging global standard na ang vaccination card,” Gatchalian said.
“Sana meron na tayong single uniform vaccination card na gagamitin ng mga LGUs. Hindi talaga ire-recognize ng mga advanced countries ang individual vaccination cards ng iba't-ibang LGUs,” he added.
The VaxCertPH, being prepared by the DICT with the Department of Health (DOH), to be issued to fully vaccinated citizens in the country is based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidance and technical specifications for vaccination certificates.
So far, only local government units (LGUs) have been enjoined by the DICT on the submission of a list of their residents or constituents vaccinated against COVID-19 in their respective localities for the inclusion in the digital vaccine certificates. (OSWG)
