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Some Marikina health workers unwilling to take Sinovac vaccine


Some health workers in Marikina City were not inclined to get the COVID-19 vaccine of China’s Sinovac Biotech, Mayor Marcy Teodoro said.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, Teodoro said some health workers want to wait for a COVID-19 vaccine that has a higher efficacy percentage.

“Mas gusto nila ‘yong mas mataas na efficacy. Kung puwede ay more than 70% doon sa moderate and 100%, if possible, for severe kaya ang sinasabi nila ay mabigyan sila pagkakataon na makapamili o makapaghintay ng bakuna na may mas mataas na efficacy,” Teodoro said.

President Rodrigo Duterte said health workers who do not want to take the Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine should wait for a few days to get vaccinated.

“Mayroong dadating. They have a choice. It’s either AstraZeneca or the Sinovac. Kung ayaw nila ng Sinovac, maghintay sila in a few days. Basta I was assured it will be coming within the next few days,” Duterte said in a press conference.

“For those who do not want to be vaccinated, okay lang sa akin. Wala akong problema. Ayaw ninyo magpabakuna, okay, that’s your choice,” he added.

On Saturday, Philippine General Hospital doctors said Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine should undergo further appraisal before being administered on healthcare workers.

Although the Chinese vaccine was granted emergency use authorization by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, it was not recommended for healthcare workers due to its lower efficacy rate of 50.4 percent for the group.

Despite this, the Department of Health said the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group agreed to recommend Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine for health workers.

The DOH also clarified that health workers will not lose their priority status in the COVID-19 vaccination program even if they refuse the vaccine developed by Sinovac— Ma. Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News

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