Filtered By: Topstories
News

DOH: 20 minor adverse events recorded on first day of vaccine rollout


Twenty adverse events following immunization (AEFI) have been recorded as of Tuesday morning following the first day of the rollout of vaccines from China’s Sinovac, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the adverse events recorded were high blood pressure, pain at the injection site, itchiness, rashes, headache, and nausea.

“All of them are common and all of them are minor adverse events,” she said in a virtual briefing. “Wala sa kanilang na-admit, lahat sila ay inobserbahan, na-manage, at after a while they were all sent home.”

Vergeire said the government, not the manufacturer, will be held accountable for AEFI since the vaccines are still under development and emergency use authorization (EUA).

“Huwag lang merong gross negligence talaga on the part of the manufacturer and also the healthcare worker… Ang gobyerno ang sasagot, magpapagamot, magbabantay, tutulong sa mga taong magkakaroon nitong mga adverse events na ‘to,” she said.

Under the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 26, government officials, vaccine manufacturers, and authorized private entities are immune from suit and liability.

Rollout assessment

Vergeire said the DOH was “content” and “happy” with the first day of the vaccine rollout to several hospitals across Metro Manila.

“Kumpara doon sa previous days na may mga lumalabas na talagang mataas ang hesitancy, we saw the support and we saw that healthcare workers voluntarily had themselves vaccinated,” she said.

“Bagamat ang mga numero natin ay hindi pa ganoon kataas, we are expecting and we are hoping that… we will see an increased uptake of this vaccine.

At least 416 health workers got vaccinated on Monday, according to data collated by GMA News Research.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said more regions have asked for a supply ofvaccines after the rollout in Metro Manila.—AOL/KBK, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT