COVID-19 vaccination not simple, can't be rushed, says Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III explained that the slow coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination process was due to the need to monitor for side effects after inoculations were given.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on "24 Oras," Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the government to accelerate the rollout, saying that the country would achieve herd immunity in 2033 at the rate the vaccinations were going.

“Hindi mo puwedeng itodo kasi mamaya, itodo mo tapos biglang magkaroon ng side effect. Papauwiin mo, eh, paano ‘yung ibang pasyente na kailangan ng services?” explained Duque.

[You can't rush it because a patient might suffer side effects. If you send him home, how about the other patients who will need services?]

“Hindi simple ‘yan na parang magbabakuna ka lang tapos tapos na, hindi ganon ‘yun.”

[It's not that simple to just inoculate and then it's done. That's not how it goes.]

Duque pointed out that individuals vaccinated against the illness were made to stay in an observation area for 30 minutes to one hour before being discharged to ensure that they will have no severe side effects.

However, vaccinations would have to stop once the observation area was full. Due to this, only a limited number of people can receive the vaccine in a day.

“Nabibilaukan sa dulo. Ito na nga umiikot ako para sabihan sila na kumuha, ang mga ospital maghanap ng mga malaking eskuwelahan o mga gymnasium para doon gawin ang mass post-vaccination observation activity,” said Duque.

[It gets bogged down at the end. I have been going around asking hospitals to look for schools or gymnasiums so we can do in those places mass post-vaccination observation activity.] — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News