Business groups back proposal for booster cards by June

Major Philippine business groups have backed a proposal to replace vaccination cards with "booster cards" by June, a move aimed at increasing COVID-19 booster shot uptake.

Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion proposed the change to encourage more Filipinos to get boosted, as only 12 million have received their third dose while over 27 million vaccine doses are set to expire by July.

The proposal was explicitly supported by numerous organizations including the Philippine Franchise Association, Philippine Retailers Association, Philippine Marketing Association, Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Makati Business Club, Financial Executives Institute, American Chamber of Commerce, European Chamber of Commerce, and Indian Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Other groups, such as airline companies and restaurant groups, plan to promote boosters through incentives.

Concepcion warned of a potential COVID-19 surge in the latter half of 2022 due to waning immunity and the possible emergence of new variants.