FDA cites possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccine in ongoing trials

In the middle of ongoing COVID-19 immunization trials, the Food and Drugs Administration on Thursday reminded the public of the possible side effects of these vaccines being developed. 

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita, FDA's Dr. Eric Domingo noted that side effects depend on the type of the vaccine that is being tested.

“Unang-una 'yung mga local side effects: pamamaga sa site ng injection, ‘yung pananakit ng katawan. Merong iba nagkakaroon sila ng mild symptoms: pamimigat ng katawan right after the vaccine,” he said.

According to Domingo, a vaccine could also lead to a disease as one of the possible side effects.

“Ang isang bakuna maari rin siya maging cause ng sakit. So kailangan tingnan mo rin kung magko-cause siya noong parang sakit ng COVID-19 o iba pang sakit o kung wala siyang effect,” he added.

Domingo assured the public that the FDA will look into these possibilities before certifying any vaccines against COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire underscored that the government will still subject the Russia-made vaccine to regulatory procedures before clearing it for clinical trials.

“Just like any product, any other new technology katulad ng bakuna, idadaan natin ‘yan sa regulatory procedures,” she said.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia became the first country in the world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, calling it Sputnik V, in reference to Russia's triumph in 1957 being the first country in the world to launch a space satellite.

Shortly after Putin's announcement, President Rodrigo Duterte said he had accepted Putin's offer to provide the country with a vaccine against COVID-19, and that he is willing to try it for himself during clinical trials.

Citing information from a meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO), Domingo said that there were doubts on how Russia jumped to the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health reported a total of 143,749 COVID-19 cases in the country with 68,997 recoveries and 2,404 fatalities. —LBG, GMA News