The Department of Health (DOH) is not in favor of vaccine passports that would allow individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 to gain access to some business establishments, citing lack of sufficient evidence that vaccinated people will not infect others anymore.
“Hindi po. Hindi po kami sang-ayon sa ganyang pagpapalakad, o kaya magkakaroon tayo ng ganyang mga proseso,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an virtual briefing on Friday.
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The statement came following the proposal floated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and some members of the business group to issue passes for inoculated individuals that will grant access to certain establishments.
Vergeire reiterated there is no guarantee that people inoculated with existing vaccines cannot get sick or no longer infect others.
“As to preventing mild to moderate infections, hindi pa rin tayo nagbibigay ng ganyang assurance sa mga kababayan natin,” she furthered.
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She added that DOH will not recommend the issuance of vaccine passes for vaccinated Filipinos yet as there are recent studies concluding that COVID-19 jabs can reduce the risk of severe case of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez clarifies that the agency do not have plans to issue vaccine passes yet. (RA)
