Go urges LGUs to work with DICT, nat'l agencies to expedite vaccination card rollout
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Sunday, August 15 urged local government units (LGUs) to work closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other national agencies in order to expedite the country’s COVID-19 vaccination database.
Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said this will ensure accuracy of data regarding the vaccination efforts and ensure that fully vaccinated individuals can secure vaccine certifications immediately.
The DICT is taking the lead in managing the Vaccine Administration System (DVAS), which forms part of VaxCertPH’s Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS).
“I urge LGUs to fast track their processes and submit their vaccination data to their respective DVAs,” Go said.
“This is to expedite and centralize all the data of people who have been vaccinated in the country, in compliance with the policies of the World Health Organization (WHO),” he stressed.
Metro Manila mayors have reportedly started coordinating closely with the DICT for its digital vaccine certificate project which is essential for the government to achieve a unified vaccination card.
Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, in a radio interview, said that LGUs have begun sending names of vaccinated residents to the agency.
This is in compliance to the Joint Memorandum Circular issued by the DICT and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed in July 23, 2021, requiring LGUs to submit lists of vaccinated individuals via DVAS.
Go reiterated it is necessary for LGUs and other national agencies to adopt and utilize the VDAS in the submission of line list of vaccinated individuals.
“Our goal is to streamline the country's vaccine registration process in order to accelerate national immunization efforts. We must be proactive in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and adapting to the new normal,” Go stressed.