DOH: No deaths, COVID-19 infections in Philippines caused by vaccines so far

None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the country has caused death or COVID-19 infection so far, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday, citing experts from committees tasked to assess adverse events following immunization (AEFI).

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a total of 24,823 suspected AEFI cases have been reported as of April 11.

Among those who received the Sinovac vaccine, nearly 7,000 reported experiencing non-serious AEFI while 164 people had “severe” reactions.

From those who got the AstraZeneca's vaccine, 17,503 minor and 206 “serious” AEFI were reported.

Vergeire assured the public that “all of these are being investigated.”

The Food and Drug Administration previously explained that a serious AEFI is one that results in death, a life-threatening situation like anaphylaxis, in-patient and prolonged hospitalization, persistent or significant disability, congenital anomaly or birth defect, or a medically important event.

On the other hand, some of the most common AEFI are pain at the injection site, chills, chest discomfort, fatigue, and headache.

“Base sa pag-aaral ng ating mga eksperto, ito pong mga bakunang meron tayo ngayon ay hindi naging cause ng kahit na anumang naging pagkakamatay dito sa ating bansa or hindi naging cause ng kahit anumang pagkakasakit ng COVID-19 dito sa ating bansa,” Vergeire said in a briefing.

(Based on studies by our experts, the vaccines that we have did not cause any death or illness due to COVID-19 in the country.)

The Philippines has inoculated over a million individuals as of April 12. 

The country has logged 884,783 COVID-19 cases with 703,963 recoveries and 15,286 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. —KBK, GMA News