Poe calls for 'reliable' vaccination record-keeping in LGUs
As government officials debate on whether or not to ease travel restrictions for fully-vaccinated individuals, Senator Grace Poe on Thursday, July 8, said local government units (LGUs) should have the necessary and proper systems in place to record those who have been inoculated against the novel coronavirus.

"We trust that local government units have installed a reliable system in place to identify those who have been inoculated against the virus," Poe said in a statement.
"While a standard digital certificate is ideal, the paper record issued to vaccinated individuals should bear the integrity and protection against manipulation and abuse," she pointed out.
The senator said the vaccination cards being issued should be should be complemented by a "tight" record-keeping and documentation to secure sensitive personal and health data of people.
She said that the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act not only expedites the procurement of the vaccines, but also provides for the smooth implementation of the entire inoculation process, including the issuance of vaccine cards.
"The vaccine cards will play a key role in reestablishing our global connectivity, facilitating travels and employment, and reviving the economy to help our people turn the corner," Poe said.
Local government officials earlier questioned the move of Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease's (IATF) to drop the COVID-19 testing requirement for fully-vaccinated individuals, and use instead their vaccine cards as "sufficient alternatives" for traveling.
Governors were concerned how the new policy will be implemented, saying there is no way to validate the vaccination or the authenticity of the vaccine cards.
After this, Department of Health Sec. Francisco Duque III, who co-chairs the IATF, withdrew their previous pronouncements and said it is still up to the LGUs whether or not to require a negative RT-PCR resuly before allowing entry to their localities.
The IATF and local authorities were set to meet Thursday, July 8, to thresh the travel protocols for fully vaccinated individuals, Duque said.