The world must soon come up with a universal standard of proof of coronavirus vaccination of people to facilitate safe and smooth travel across borders.
The Philippine government issued the latest appeal for an internationally recognized vaccine card after expressing dismay with reports that the vaccination cards issued by local authorities to overseas Filipino workers would not be honored by Hong Kong.
According to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, the World Health Organization (WHO) could take the lead in the development of the uniform vaccination cards that can be accepted across the world.
Having proof of a person's vaccination status has been widely seen as a crucial pass to access services and safely travel as the world continues to battle the pandemic.
"Nakakalungkot na balita po iyan pero ang buong daigdig po (That is sad news but the entire world), we are finding ways and means now para magkaroon po tayo ng basehan na kilalanin iyong ating mga vaccination cards (to have basis to recognize our vaccination cards). Hindi lang po iyan problema ng Pilipinas; problema po iyan ng buong daigdig (That is not a problem of the Philippines, but also the rest of the world)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, August 10.
"Nakikipag-ugnayan po ang gobyerno sa international community pagdating dito (The government is coordinating with the international community on this issue)...Tinitingnan po natin kung pupuwede rin ang WHO ay manguna na ‘no doon sa initiative para magkaroon tayo ng uniformed na pagtanggap ng mga vaccination cards (We are looking if WHO can initiate the initiative to have uniformed vaccination cards)," he added.
Pending the creation of such internationally recognized vaccine cards, the government has asked outbound overseas Filipino workers to secure "yellow cards" as proof of their vaccination. The departing Filipino workers can get the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV), also known as a yellow card, from the Bureau of Quarantine if required by the country of destination.
READ: 3,000 OFWs can't be deployed to Hong Kong until gov't rolls out vax cards
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. earlier confirmed that Hong Kong authorities would not honor the vaccine cards issued by the Philippine government since "they are not connected to a single source."
Locsin however remained confident that the Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II and his team would "get the job done right." The department has been earlier assigned to develop the uniform vaccine cards in the country.
Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the government intends to issue internationally recognized "vaccine passports" as proof that a person has been fully vaccinated. He said the passports could be used in airports and other ports of entry as well as become part of the country's health protocols.
READ: 'Vaccine passports' of Filipinos can be part of PH health protocols — Nograles