Sinovac vaccine effective, DOH reiterates after inoculated Thai health workers catch COVID-19

The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public anew on Monday that Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine is effective following reports that fully inoculated health workers in Thailand contracted the respiratory disease.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a Chile study involving over 10 million people showed that Sinovac’s effectiveness was 90% against ICU admission, 87.5% against hospitalization, and 86% against death.

“Ito po ay magandang pagpapatunay na effective itong Sinovac (This proves that Sinovac) is effective,” she said.

Thailand’s health ministry earlier reported that 618 out of 677,348 medical personnel who were fully vaccinated with the Sinovac jab were infected with COVID-19. One nurse died and another health worker were in critical condition. 

In the Philippines, the Food and Drug Administration said only 60 mild COVID-19 cases were recorded among individuals who got two shots of the Sinovac jab. 

Vergeire also said the Sinovac vaccine still showed 100% effectiveness against hospitalization and severe infection in Brazil, where several new coronavirus variants are circulating.

“Nandyan pa rin naman po ‘yung effectiveness ng bakuna. Kailangan pagkatiwalaan po natin ‘yan (The effectiveness of the vaccine is still there. We need to trust in it),” she said.

The Philippines has fully vaccinated 4.5% or 3.2 million of its 70 million target population for COVID-19 jabs as of July 8. —KG, GMA News