The Department of Health (DOH) appealed to the public not to lie about their health condition for them to immediately get vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that all eligible individuals in the country will be able to receive their COVID-19 shots in due time.
“You don't need to fake your documents. Hindi kailangan mag-sinungaling na may sakit kayo, mabibigyan po kayo kasi karapatan nyo iyan (You don't need to fake your documents. You don't have to lie that you are sick. You will be given the vaccine eventually because it is your right),” she said on Friday, June 11.
Vergeire said that they received reports from their regional offices that some people present fake documents of having comorbidities.
“Kaya nga po tayo meron screening doon sa ating mga vaccination sites, so kaya rin po siguro ang ating mga regional office ay nahuli nila, they were able identify these people kasi we do screening (That's why we have screening at our vaccination sites, and our regional offices caught some people--- they were able to identify these people because we do screening),” she said.
The DOH spokesperson warned that those who lie about their medical conditions may face penalties.
“Meron po iyang mga penalties---meron na po tayong vina-violate sa ating mga existing laws in the country. So atin pong binabalaan at atin pong binibigyan ng advise ang ating mga kababayan---don't go to that strategy (It has corresponding penalties---you are violating existing laws in the country. So we are warning and advising the public--- don't go to that strategy),” she said.
Currently, the COVID-19 vaccination program covers the A1 to A4 group: medical frontliners, senior citizens, people with comorbidities, and essential workers.
Those with comorbidities may present the following as proof of their conditions: medical certificate from an attending physician, prescription for medicines, hospital records such as the discharge summary and medical abstract; or surgical records and pathology reports.
As of June 8, there are now 373,493 people with comorbidities who are fully vaccinated; while 1,568,809 people have already received their first dose.