Individuals recovering from COVID-19 will have to delay receiving vaccine —DOH official

Individuals who are recovering from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will have to delay receiving the vaccine as a precautionary measure, an official from the Department of Health said Friday.

Dr. Eric Tayag, director IV of the DOH  Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service said based on the latest information they received, people recovering from the disease will have to delay inoculation for at least six months.

“The latest information we have is that those who are recovering from COVID-19 infection, they have to delay receiving the vaccination and there’s information that this should be at least six months,” he said in a webinar.

“While we have this information, such policies will be evaluated and that there will be announcements if those who had COVID-19 can actually receive the vaccine,” Tayag added.

According to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals who already contracted COVID-19 and have recovered should still be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine due to the severe health risks associated with the virus and the fact that reinfection is possible.

The CDC said if an individual was treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, he or she should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the Philippines targets to vaccinate some 50 million to 70 million Filipinos from COVID-19 this year.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government’s vaccination program against COVID-19 may start in March should the vaccines arrive in the Philippines in the latter half of February.

The Philippines has already allocated P73.2 billion for the procurement of the vaccines, with P40 billion coming from multilateral agencies, P20 billion from domestic sources, and P13.2 billion from bilateral agreements.

Meanwhile, the private sector has committed to procuring as much as six million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca, half of which will be donated to the Philippine government.—AOL, GMA News