Vaccine passports to be issued by Philippine government

In a press briefing held last January 15, 2021, Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the Philippine government will be issuing a vaccine passport. Analou De Vera reports on the government’s plans through this article for the Manila Bulletin.

A unique identifier will be issued per person which will then indicate whether the person has been vaccinated or not. Vergiere adds that she believes that a vaccine passport will be part of health protocols for border control in various countries.

Editor’s Note: While some countries are still debating the need for a vaccine passport, the Philippines already wants to pioneer its use despite the issues being raised against it. Does this government realize the legal and ethical repercussions of this decision? [To understand the impact of vaccine passports in society, read Vaccines: Trojan Horses for Global Sterilization and Surveillance].