Shun unhealthy practices for better COVID-19 vaccine effect — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) advised the public on Friday to shun unhealthy practices so that vaccines against the coronavirus disease can have a better effect on them.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said this after an official in Russia said that those getting inoculated against COVID-19 with its Sputnik V vaccine should give up alcohol for almost two months.

She noted that those who drink alcohol in excessive amounts may have a weaker immune system.

“These are just precautionary measures. We all know that when you drink alcohol, especially if you drink it too much, bumababa ang immunity natin (the immunity becomes weak),” Vergeire said in a virtual media forum.

She explained that for a vaccine to work well, one should have a “robust” immune system so that antibodies against the virus can develop properly in the body.

“I think this is not something bad and I think people should heed this call para lang po mas magkaroon ng mas magandang epekto ang ating bakuna. Iwasan muna natin ang mga nakakasama sa ating katawan,” she added.

(I think this is not something bad and I think people should heed this call so that the vaccines will have better effects. Let us avoid unhealthy practices for now.)

National Task Force against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that COVID-19 vaccines from Russia and China may be rolled out in the country as early as the first quarter of 2021.

EDV