DOH to put expiry dates on COVID-19 vax cards

Published April 20, 1:13 AM

by Patricia Audrey Borja

PHOTO BY Jean Nicole Cortez/Sunstar 

The government is considering putting expirations on COVID-19 vaccination cards to encourage people to get their booster shots.

COVID-19 vaccines available in the Philippines are expected to be effective against diseases for at least six months to maximum one year.

According to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, 27 million doses of vaccines are set to expire in July and if the people still refuse to get their booster doses the number of expiring vaccines will increase. 

That is why the government is considering putting a six month validity on vaccination cards.

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said at  the Laging Handa public briefing said that most people who completed their booster doses are from the National Capital Region while people in Bangsamoro Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao and other provinces still need to be convinced to get their primary doses and booster doses.

As of April 18,2022, Department of Health (DOH) National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard data shows that  almost 67 million individuals have completed their primary doses and at least 12 million have taken booster doses.