TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, 15 April (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) here reported that of the 24,209 who received CoronaVac and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines in the region, there were 516 who experienced minor adverse events following immunization (AEFI) but all are now in stable condition.
The DOH said that side effects is a normal sign that the body is building protection. In most cases, discomfort from fever or pain is normal. There is a need to contact a healthcare provider only if the redness or tenderness from the shot increases after 24 hours or if side effects are becoming worrisome or do not seem to be subsiding after a few days.
Of the 20 who experienced serious effects, there were four deaths recorded but based on the assessment made by the Regional Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee (RAEFIC), the three were considered co-incidental as they turned-out positive for COVID-19 with comorbidities prior to vaccination. It was found out that the causes of death were not related with the vaccine.
The other case was indeterminate and was already sent to the DOH Central Office for further assessment according to Joyce Maquera, regional vaccination focal person of the DOH.
As for the case of deferrals where there were about 808, these included those exposed to COVID-19, those with signs and symptoms, and those under facility quarantine.
The 159 cases of refusals are those who were afraid of being vaccinated, while others refused because of their religions, Maquera added.
Under wastages, there were vaccine vials that had cracks and thus were not administered to target beneficiaries for safety purposes.
Maquera said that the DOH has a ready back-up vaccination team should there be a need for additions. This is aside from the on-call group of medical frontliners from different agencies like the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), which will assist the local government units if there will be shortages of human resources for the vaccination teams.
Acccording to Maquera, they are part of the COVID-19 vaccination network formed by the DOH.
Meanwhile, while the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine developed by Gamaleya is expected to arrive in the Philippines, there is currently no allotment for Region 2 due to the lack of a cold storage that will meet the required temperature of negative 18 degrees Celsius.
“What we have in the region is a cold storage [facility] that can meet positve 2 to positive 8 degrees [Celsius in] temperature,” Maquera said. (JCK/GVB/PIA 2-Cagayan)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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