(Infographic courtesy of National Task Force against Covid-19)
MANILA – The VaxCertPH portal -- the country’s digital documentation system that would handle the issuance of Covid-19 vaccination certificates -- may be opened to the public in October, an official of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said on Tuesday.
In a virtual Palace briefing, DICT Undersecretary Emmanuel “Manny” Caintic said the portal was soft-launched in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Baguio City on Monday.
While the VaxCertPH system is ready, he said a soft launch was necessary to help local government units (LGU) complete their vaccination data and rectify necessary information.
“Binibigyan namin nang sapat na panahon para makita namin iyong response noong mga LGU, kung kumusta ang kanilang pag-unlock noong mga requests for data rectification (We’re giving enough time to see the response of LGUs, how they are unlocking requests for data rectification),” Caintic said.
He noted that the Philippines is one of the first countries to develop a World Health Organization (WHO)-compliant vaccination data system.
“Niru-rollout pa lang din sa ibang mga bansa ang pagsunod noong kanilang standard. Tayo po sa Pilipinas isa tayo sa mga nauuna. So hintay-hintay lang po konti (Other countries are still rolling out compliance with the standard. The Philippines we’re one of the first. So, let’s wait a little),” Caintic said.
Aside from being vaccinated in the NCR or Baguio City, he said overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and those headed overseas are currently being prioritized for enrolment in the system.
“Inaasahan po namin na sa mga susunod na mga araw o linggo ay bubuksan na po ito sa lahat ng mga Pilipino sa buong bansa at maaari rin po itong gamitin sa iba pang mga bagay maliban sa international travel (We are expecting in the coming days or weeks that this will be opened to all Filipinos and can be used in other things aside from international travel),” Caintic said.
To date, he said only those who have completed their Covid-19 vaccination at least 14 days ago may access the system in compliance with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution No. 120 that only after 14 days from completing their vaccination are individuals considered as fully vaccinated.
“Ibig sabihin, hindi po makakapag-generate sa ngayon ng taong kulang pa ang bakuna at nabigyan less than 14 days ago (What this means is, right now it won’t be generated for those who have not completed their jabs or have completed it less than 14 days ago),” Caintic said.
He noted that the vaccine certificate is not an immunization passport nor a valid ID and that it would need to be presented with a passport or any other identification and a Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ)-issued yellow card if they are headed for a country that requires it.
A vaccination certificate issued through VaxCertPH would contain an individual’s personal information, vaccination data from the Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS) database, and protected with a QR verification system in addition to other security measures. (PNA)
