Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) — Individuals who already got their COVID-19 shots may soon be able to get electronic versions of their vaccine cards, according to the country's Trade chief.
"Very soon. I think in a few weeks, mga one month, mabubuo na rin itong digital (vaccine) card natin," Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said during a televised briefing, citing the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
[Translation: Very soon. I think in a few weeks, around a month our digital vaccine cards will be created.]
Lopez said it will "hopefully be a QR code system" where digital vaccine cards would be "centralized" and "consolidated," which in effect would validate that the individual is truly the one who got vaccinated.
Lopez and other economic managers have been counting on a faster, wider vaccine rollout to help lift the economy out of the pandemic-induced recession. The Trade Secretary himself has said vaccination will help bring down the country's unemployment rate.
The national government began vaccinating economic frontliners on June 7, but not all local governments have enough supply to inoculate essential workers in their jurisdictions.
Economic frontliners are fourth in line for the vaccination program, which prioritizes health workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities.
The Philippines' overall goal is to vaccinate 70% of its population against COVID-19, in hopes of achieving herd immunity.
In close partnership with government, businesses, civil society, and academia, ECCP passionately works to enhance the business environment for both European and Filipino companies.