DOH records 978 adverse ‘minor and common’ effects in PH’s COVID vax drive

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has so far recorded a total of 978 adverse effects, mostly common and minor, during the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the country.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online press briefing that 892 of this figure are from the inoculation with Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccine that reported 897 “non-serious” and 20 “serious” adverse effects.

Meanwhile, there were also 86 vaccinees who experienced adverse effects following immunization with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Of the number, 85 were “non-serious” events and one “serious” event.

The data were as of March 9, according to Vergeire.

She said the most common adverse effects felt after vaccination were muscle pain, body ache, fever, increase in blood pressure, and rashes.

“Ito ‘yung mga common at minor. So kapag inobserbahan sila tapos nabigyan ng kaukulang gamot kung kailangan ay pinapauwi na sila, at marami sa mga sinabi natin are because of these minor and common adverse events. Usual lang po ‘yan, hindi dapat ikatakot,” she said.

(These are common and minor side effects. After we observe the vaccinees and they were given medicine if needed, they were sent home. Most of the adverse events are minor and common. These are usual and we should not be afraid of these.)

According to Vergeire, the “serious” adverse events experienced by few vaccinees were difficulty in breathing and chest pains. She said health experts are studying the cause of these events.

However, Vergeire shared that the National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee thinks that these serious effects were triggered by anxiety in receiving the vaccines.

“’Yung takot ng ating mga kababayan kapag magpapabakuna, baka sila ay magka-side effect or natatakot sa karayom,” she said, adding that experts are now studying whether or not these events are caused by the vaccines themselves.

(Others are afraid of vaccination because they fear they may experience side effects, or they are afraid of the needle.)

Malacañang said on Thursday that a total of 114,615 people have so been vaccinated in the country against COVID-19. He said the country has 442 vaccination sites so far.

According to Vergeire, this number is composed of 101,827 people who were vaccinated with CoronaVac, and 12,788 who were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca jab.

/MUF