A person will get a free vaccine card after taking the COVID-19 vaccine shot based on a new law signed by President Duterte.
Republic Act No. 11525, also known as "COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021," has directed the Department of Health (DOH) to maintain a central database of vaccinations and mandates a uniform format for the vaccine cards.
The COVID-19 vaccine cards, which will include the name, address, birthdays, and vaccination information of vaccine recipients, will be subject to the provisions of the country’s data privacy law.
Such vaccine cards however will not be an "additional mandatory requirement" for educational, employment, and the government transaction purposes, according to RA 11525.
"The DOH shall issue a vaccine card to all persons vaccinated. To fast track the process, the DOH may delegate the processing and issuance of vaccine cards to LGUs and private entities, subject to guidelines to the promulgated by the DOH," the law read.
The vaccine card, which could either be digital or printed card, will contain the following information:
- basic personal information such as full name, present and/or permanent address, and birthdate;
- manufacturer, brand name, and batch number or other identifier of the COVID-19 vaccine;
- date of vaccination;
- name of hospital, health center or health facility where the vaccine was received;
- name, signature, license number of the duly licensed physician, nurse or other health worker administering the vaccine;
- date of the last RT-PCR testing and the name of the laboratory; and,
- other information that may be determined as necessary by the Health Secretary or the government pandemic task force
Under the law, the DOH, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), must develop the LGU-based digital systems and applications that will meet the objectives of the COVID-19 Vaccination Program while maintaining quality, safety, ease of use, and accessibility for all Filipinos.
The contents of the vaccine card will be updated accordingly to conform with globally acceptable standards.
"Individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 as indicated in the vaccine card shall not be considered immune from COVID-19, unless otherwise declared by the DOH based on reliable scientific evidence and consensus," the law read.
RA 11525 also said no fees will be collected for the issuance, amendment, or replacement of a vaccine card. The amount for the implementation of the vaccine cards will be charged against available government funds.
Any person who falsifies a vaccine card may face punishment under the Revised Penal Code.
The same new law, signed by the President on Feb. 26, facilitates the swift procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines by the local government units (LGUs) as well as the establishment of the P500-million indemnity fund. the law takes effect immediately upon publication in a newspaper or the Official Gazette.
The measure will remain in effect during the state of calamity declared by the President last September.