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Can domestic helpers get vaccines in the Philippines before coming to Hong Kong? What is the COVID-19 situation there?

This is a rapidly changing situation. We will do our best to keep this article updated. Please go to the main sources for the most updated information.

Filipino workers who are bound for deployment within the next four months are now in the top priority category, A1, for vaccines in the Philippines. (ABS-CBN, 28 May 2021). Domestic helpers should be able to register and receive vaccines as part of the top priority group.

Can domestic helpers choose which vaccine they take in the Philippines?

The Philippine government has announced that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will be given the vaccine brand required by their country of destination. (Inquirer, 18 June 2021)

However, in practice, each Local Government Unit (LGU) will have different registration processes (See below). It is important to check what vaccines are being available and to request for it. Some LGUs are running low on supplies.

See the official advisory: NTF Advisory 53 (14 June 2021)

Take the vaccine recognised in Hong Kong:

These are the vaccines currently recognised by Hong Kong. Make sure to take a vaccine that manufactured by those listed below:

  • AstraZeneca / SK Bioscience: AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine, Vaxzevria, COVID-19 Vaccine (ChAdOx1-S [recombinant]), AZD1222
  • BioNTech: Comirnaty, 復必泰, Tozinameran – COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (nucleoside modified), Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, BNT162b2
  • Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical:重組新型冠狀病毒疫苗(CHO 细胞) 3, 智克威得, ZF2001
  • CanSinoBIO: Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (Adenovirus Type-5-Vectored Vaccine), 重組新型冠狀病毒疫苗(5 型腺病毒載體), Convidecia 克威莎
  • Johnson & Johnson: Janssen: Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, 强生新冠疫苗, Janssen Ad26.COV2.S (COVID-19) vaccine 楊森, Ad26.COV2.S (COVID-19)疫苗
  • Moderna: Moderna COVID‑19 Vaccine, 莫德納 COVID-19 疫苗, mRNA-1273 vaccine
  • Serum Institute of India: Covishield, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Corona Virus Vaccine (Recombinant), AZD1222
  • Sinopharm / Beijing Institute of Biological Products: COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated 新型冠狀病毒滅活疫苗(Vero 細胞), BBIBP-CorV 眾愛可維, COVID-19-i 新冠疫苗(Vero 細胞), SARS-COV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated 新型冠狀病毒滅活疫苗(Vero 細胞),COVID-19 Vaccine 新型冠狀病毒疫苗
  • Sinopharm / Wuhan Institute of Biological Products: COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated 新型冠狀病毒滅活疫苗(Vero 細胞), WIBP-CorV 眾康可維
  • Sinovac: CoronaVac 克爾來福, COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated 新型冠狀病毒滅活疫苗 (Vero 細胞)
  • The Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology: Sputnik V
  • Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products: SARS-COV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated 新型冠狀病毒滅活疫苗 (Vero 細胞), 可維克
  • Institute of Medical Biology Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences: SARS-COV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated 新型冠狀病毒滅活疫苗 (Vero 細胞), 科維福

(Last updated on 29 June 2021: coronavirus.gov.hk)

Can Vaccinated domestic helpers come to Hong Kong from the Philippines?:

If the domestic helper was fully vaccinated in Hong Kong and is now returning from the Philippines, they will be able to enter Hong Kong.  They must have their Hong Kong vaccination certificate as the recognized vaccination record. 

If the domestic helper was fully vaccinated in the Philippines, please see the latest update announced on 22 August:Can domestic helpers from the Philippines and Indonesia travel to Hong Kong?

If the domestic helper was fully vaccinated in the Philippines, they must have the following:

  • Yellow Card issued by the Bureau of Quarantine
  • VaxCertPH issued by the Department of Health

Note: Starting from 12 August 2022, the arrangement of “recognised vaccination records” is no longer applicable. Relevant persons arriving at Hong Kong are only required to present vaccination record meeting the above requirements.

How Overseas Filipino Workers can register for the vaccine in the Philippines

1.Register for the Vaccination

Each Local Government Unit of each province will have different systems to designate vaccinations.

  1. Go to the Department of Health website on vaccines: https://doh.gov.ph/vaccines.
  2. Click the link to button to register for vaccines.

  1. It will take you to a Directory on Google Slides: Directory. Click the link to the correct vaccine registration site.
  2. Vaccinations should be taken at the area of residence only.
  3. Follow instructions on the local vaccination site.

2. At the Vaccination Site

Bring your proof of deployment issued by manning agency or the latest verified employment contract:
  • a. Overseas Employment Contract or
  • b. Seaman’s Book

The Second Dose

Most of the vaccinations available require a second dose to provide full protection.
Everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated with their second doses in the same vaccination site. However, as priority Group, overseas workers may be vaccinated with their first and second doses in different health facilities and LGUs.

The Third Dose (Booster shot)

Fully vaccinated adults may receive their Covid-19 booster shots starting December 3, 2021. Adults may receive boosters at least three months after the second dose of a primary two-dose vaccine, or least two months after the primary single-dose vaccine is given.

Warning: Only take Vaccines from Authorised Sources:

Buying vaccines from unauthorised sources is illegal and extremely dangerous. 300 Sinovac doses being sold in the “black market” were seized by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (CNN Philippines, July 2021). BDoses from such sources cannot be checked for their safety or validity. Do not attempt to get vaccines from unauthorised routes. Only authorised vaccines can be verified and recognised which is essential for travel verifications.

Vaccination Rates and Supply in the Philippines

COVID-19 Situation in the Philippines

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Last updated on August 24th, 2022
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