Inducing passive immunity to COVID-19 patients still in experimental stage in Philippines —PGH

Transferring the plasma of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors to improve the condition of critically-ill patients suffering from the virus is still in the experimental stage but health authorities have high hopes for the effectiveness of the procedure, Philippine General Hospital spokesperson Jonas Del Rosario said Friday.

Del Rosario it is called convalescent plasma transfusion wherein patients who recovered from COVID-19 donate blood so that the antibodies that they have used to fight the virus may be transfused to those who are sick.

"Ito po ay nasa experimental stage. Sa mga dating pandemic nagawa na rin po 'yan. Ang tawag po diyan ay passive immunity, ipapasa po ang immunity," Del Rosario said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

"Although ito po ay experimental at tinatawag nating nasa compassionate use, may mga ebidensiya po na ito ay nakakatulong—either napapaigsi nila ang course ng disease at napapalakas nila ang pasyente at nakakarecover po," he added.

The PGH recently called for blood donations from COVID-19 survivors.

"Nagtataglay ang kanilang dugo ng antibodies. Kaya nga sila naka-recover ay nakagawa sila ng immune response through the antibody. 'Yan ang gagamitin natin ngayon na para ibigay naman sa mga pasyente na lumalaban pa sa COVID-19," Del Rosario said.

He, however, underscored that the donor has to be healthy.

"Usually kapag negative na, mga two weeks pa 'yan na pinapagaling bago sila maging qualified donor. Siyempre may tests din sa dugo nila kasi kung may  iba naman silang sakit at hindi pwedeng makapag-donate ng dugo, hindi rin sila pwede," he said.

Out of the 2,633 cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines, only 51 have so far recovered while 107 died.

According to DOH's online tracker, there are currently 1,154 persons under investigation and 6,321 persons under monitoring.

COVID-19 survivors who want to donate blood may contact PGH through Dr. Sandy Maganito at 0917 805 3207 or the UP PGH COVID-19 hotline at 155-200.—AOL, GMA News