Doctors' group asks for list of vaccinated PSG men for monitoring

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) on Tuesday requested the government for a list of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) members who were given shots of unregistered vaccine against COVID-19 for monitoring purposes.

"Kung nabigyan na sila, ang medical community wala nang magagawa. Sana ibigay na lang sa amin ang listahan ng mga nabakunahan, kasi kung mga sundalo 'yan, kontrol nila, kilala nila, babantayan sila kung ano ang naging reaksyon ng bakuna sa kanila at tutulong ang PMA kung nabakunahan na sila," said PMA president Dr. Benito Atienza in a Balitanghali interview.

"Kung nabakunahan na, isama na sila sa phase 3 ng trial para makita natin ang epekto," he added.

According to Atienza, it is important that the vaccines were tested and proven to be effective at least in other countries.

"Mas maganda ang gawin natin, lahat po ng nagpabakuna ay lumantad para malaman namin at matulungan po natin at mabantayan sila... Wala naman pong magpapabakuna kung walang nag-utos, o walang tatanggap. 'Yan po ay may consent," he said.

Atienza made the statement after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said soldiers who are part of the PSG were the first ones to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

This, despite the fact that the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve any COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA earlier warned that the use of unregistered vaccine could be unsafe.

Atienza, however, refused to answer on whether the vaccine used for the PSG soldiers should have been approved by the FDA first.

"Hindi ko po masasagot 'yun kasi sa gobyerno na po 'yan. Basta ang mga doktor po ay sumusunod lamang," he said.

Atienza urged the public to cease from pointing fingers over the issue.

"Huwag nang palakihin ang issue. Nabigay na, wala nang sisihan, dapat tayo'y magtulungan para sa ikagagaling ng ating mamamayan para mawala ang agam-agam nila sa bakuna," he said.  —KBK, GMA News