The Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination drive is in full swing, with the government’s first five priority groups now eligible to receive vaccines against the disease.

The government has focused on vaccinating health workers (A1) since March 1, then opened vaccination to senior citizens (A2) and persons with comorbidities (A3) around a month later. 

Vaccination of economic frontliners (A4) started on June 7, while the health department has allowed local governments to start vaccinating individuals in the indigent sector (A5), if supplies were enough.

How should you prepare for your vaccination and what requirements do you need to bring on your scheduled appointment?

Check this list based on the Department of Health’s vaccination guidelines and information from local government units (LGUs):

For all groups

• Face mask
• Face shield
• Hand sanitizer/alcohol
• Ballpen
• Valid ID
• Text or email of vaccination schedule, QR code

Persons with comorbidities

Any proof of comorbidity such as:

• Medical certificate 
• Prescription for medicines
• Hospital records such as the discharge summary and medical abstract
• Surgical records 
• Pathology reports or lab results 

Persons with any of the following comorbidities will need a physical or electronic medical clearance from their physician:

• Autoimmune disease 
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• Cancer or malignancy and currently undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, other treatments
• Transplant patients
• Undergoing steroid treatment 
• Patients with poor prognosis, bed-ridden, terminal illness 

You do not need a medical clearance if you do not have any of the six comorbidities mentioned above. Other documents listed as possible proof of comorbidity will suffice. 

Self employed

LGU public information officers listed the following: 

• Las Piñas – Contract of service or any certificate that will show he/she is providing service
• Malabon – Register online and indicate the nature of work
• Valenzuela – ValTrace QR code, ID bearing place of residence in Valenzuela or company ID. In the absence of a company ID, any ID will suffice.
• Mandaluyong – Register through Mandavax; no need to show contract of service
• San Juan – Barangay certificate stating that in the barangay database they are freelancers or self-employed
• Caloocan – Any proof of recent employment like recent contract, Bureau of Internal Revenue receipt, cedula
• Muntinlupa – Business permit
• Pasay – Contract of service or any certificate and business permit

Rappler has reached out to other local governments for their requirements, though they have yet to respond as of posting. We will update this story with the necessary information once they respond.

Other economic frontliners

Proof of eligibility for A4 vaccination such as: 

• Certificates of eligibility from employer
• Contracts or permits
• Company ID
• Business permits or community tax certificates

Employer, LGU’s role

Based on DOH guidelines, employers or companies of workers in the A4 sector should coordinate with LGUs to facilitate vaccination of their eligible workers and provide their workers proof of eligibility as an A4 vaccine recipient. 

Local governments, meanwhile, were tasked to facilitate the registration of eligible workers in the informal sector and those who are self-employed or working freelance. 

LGUs must also coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development field office in their respective localities for the list of indigent residents based on the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

For individuals belonging to the A5 COVID-19 priority group, but not part of the DSWD’s NHTS-PR, LGUs can undertake “other verification mechanisms” for identification. – with reports from Dwight De Leon/Rappler.com

Read Rappler’s series of guides on the Duterte government’s vaccine program below:

• Your guide to COVID-19 vaccination for seniors, persons with comorbidities
• A guide to getting vaccinated as an economic frontliner
• Which Metro Manila LGUs allow walk-ins for A4 vaccinations?

Read Rappler’s series of explainers on the Duterte government’s vaccine program below:

• SCHEDULE: Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccine deliveries
• TRACKER: The Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccine distribution
• TIMELINE: The Philippines’ 2021 COVID-19 vaccine plan
• EXPLAINER: What to expect once COVID-19 vaccines arrive in the Philippines
• EXPLAINER: How COVID-19 vaccines will get from warehouses to you
• Securing vaccine deals: A checklist for local governments
• How FDA grants emergency approval for COVID-19 vaccines, meds
• PH to prioritize high-risk areas, sectors for COVID-19 vaccine rollout
• Gov’t releases new vaccine priority list, includes persons with comorbidities
• FAST FACTS: Prioritized groups, guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination
• Meet the 5 experts’ groups advising PH’s COVID-19 vaccine program
• TRACKER: Which COVID-19 vaccines are being eyed by the Philippines?