Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday called for the establishment of a centralized database of all fully-vaccinated individuals for better monitoring following reports that some persons had taken a third dose despite the limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines.
Gatchalian, a former Valenzuela City mayor, said a centralized database for fully-vaccinated individuals was long overdue as this would show who gets more than two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"Hindi natin maiiwasan minsan na merong ilan na hindi lang isa ang address. Nakakalungkot na merong nananamantala ng sitwasyon," the senator said.
"Kung may centralized database tayo, mabilis at maiiwasan ang ganitong pananamantala lalo na’t marami pa ang hindi nababakunahan,” he added.
The Quezon City government last Friday said it would file charges against two fully-vaccinated individuals who secured a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the city's vaccination centers.
One of them received two doses of Sinovac vaccine in Mandaluyong City, but registered again in Quezon City's vaccination program through a company masterlist and got a Moderna shot for a third dose.
The other individual also received two doses of Sinovac vaccine in Quezon City and bragged about getting a third dose of Pfizer.
Gatchalian said the vaccinations shouldered by the private sector or private companies should be included in the proposed centralized database.
He noted that under the tripartite agreement for the procurement of vaccines, private sector companies are required to submit a list of vaccinated individuals for monitoring.
Vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. said getting a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the Philippines is still "forbidden" as only a small percentage of the country's population have been fully vaccinated.
"We are asking our people to be patient. Kailangan we are morally obliged na we need to wait for our turn. At the same time, when we are already finished, let the other people also finish their turn," he said in a briefing on Sunday.
As of Aug. 12, the Philippines has fully vaccinated over 12 million individuals, or around 17% of the eligible target population.
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