Amid concerns regarding a potential breach of personal data related to Covid-19 vaccination in the Philippines, the World Health Organization (WHO) clarified that “it does not have access” to underlying personal data, as this information is exclusively within the domain of individual governments.
In a statement issued on Nov. 17, WHO acknowledged the reports and noted that the responsible authorities of the Government of the Philippines are currently investigating the matter.
Related to this, WHO emphasized that it does not collect, process, or store any personally identifiable information, such as names, email addresses, or phone numbers, about Covid-19 immunization.
WHO stressed that throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the organization has gathered aggregated data at a population level from national health authorities worldwide.
This data includes information on total numbers of Covid-19 infections, deaths, and vaccine doses administered in respective countries, WHO noted.
The organization underscored that these aggregated statistics play a crucial role in monitoring the progress of Covid-19 vaccination efforts on both a national and global scale.
Reports suggesting a data breach linked to the WHO or WHO-hosted databases have been strongly denied as “false and inaccurate.”
The WHO reinforced its commitment to upholding principles related to personal data protection, as embodied in the United Nations Principles on Personal Data Protection and Privacy.
As the investigation in the Philippines unfolds, the WHO urged the public to rely on accurate information and reassures that the organization remains dedicated to safeguarding personal data and privacy in the ongoing battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.