Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. receives the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine (PCOO photo)
Vaccine recipients are not required to present their Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) identification number prior to their vaccination, the state health insurer clarified on Wednesday.
In a Laging Handa briefing, PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran said any document that proves a person’s identity could be used to register for the vaccination drive.
“Doon sa mga lugar talaga mahirap, puwede naman ang sedula kapag nasa barangay ka… Puwede rin birth certificate, puwedeng barangay certificate, or anything, any document that will identify you who you are – iyong sinasabi ko nga na unique identifier of a would-be vaccinee.”
PhilHealth earlier said that vaccine recipients were required to register for the vaccination program with their PhilHealth identification number (PIN).
According to the Department of Health (DOH), the PIN is only required when claiming PhilHealth benefits in cases of adverse events following immunization (AEFI).
“To ensure PhilHealth coverage of Filipinos who are not yet registered to Philhealth in cases of AEFI that need hospitalization, the government will set up registration booths at official vaccination sites to facilitate onsite PhilHealth registration,” it said in a statement.
“The DOH further reiterates that under the Universal Health Care Law, all Filipinos, whether direct or indirect contributors, including dependents of contributors, indigent members, senior citizens and persons with disability, are automatic members of PhilHealth.”
The government launched its inoculation drive on March 1. John Ezekiel J. Hirro