DOH warns vs faking age to get vaccinated

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — Thanks but no thanks.

This was how Dr. David Mendoza of the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao reacted to incidents of overzealous individuals who went to the extent of faking their age and feigning illness so they could receive COVID-19 vaccine shots soonest.

Based on the DOH’s schedule of priority, up for vaccination at present are healthcare workers (Priority A1), senior citizens (Priority A2), and persons with comorbidity (Priority A3).

Mendoza did not reveal how many individuals were caught submitting false information to health authorities as the matter was already under investigation.

He said they have coordinated with the Philippine Statistics Authority to have the submitted birth information validated. It would then be up to the local governments concerned to take action if the information turned out to be fake, he added.

“There are many magicians among our brothers and sisters. There were some who changed their birthdays,” Mendoza told reporters during a briefing on Friday morning.

Mendoza said others declared themselves to be afflicted with diseases and comorbidity.

Mendoza noted that health authorities were also seeing a sudden surge in the number of those supposedly afflicted with respiratory and cardiovascular ailments.

“Thank you brothers and sisters for your eagerness to be vaccinated but please let us wait for our turn. No jumping over (the vaccination line),” Mendoza appealed.

Mendoza admitted that the information manipulations they uncovered could indicate that many people have already overcome their vaccine hesitancy.