‘Serious’ cases among almost 25K vaccine adverse events not directly linked to vaccines — DOH

The City Government of Antipolo administers free vaccine to its elderly residents at the cinema lobby of SM City Masinag, Antipolo City, April 12, 2021. More than 100 senior citizens who belong to the A2 group await their turn for inoculation of Sinovac vaccines.  📷:Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 24,823 suspected cases of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) from COVID-19 vaccination, but none of the serious effects so far has been identified to be directly caused by any of the vaccines.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday that there are almost 7,000 non-serious and 164 serious adverse effects for Sinovac. Meanwhile, there are 17,503 minor and 206 serious adverse effects for AstraZeneca.

She said “all of these [suspected AEFI] cases are being investigated.”

“Some of the results of investigations have been out already, and until now wala pa po tayong naipapalabas o wala pang nakikita ang mga experto ng NAEFIC (National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee) at RAEFIC (Regional Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee) na direct causality, ibig sabihin na caused siya ng vaccine dito sa mga serious effects na ito,” she said in an online press briefing.

(Some of the results have been out already, and until now, experts from NAEFIC and RAEFICs have yet to show results that the serious effects have been directly caused by the vaccines.)

In the early days of vaccination in March, Vergeire said that the most common adverse effects of inoculation were muscle pain, body ache, fever, increase in blood pressure, and rashes.

Meanwhile, the serious adverse events experienced by few vaccinees are difficulty in breathing and chest pain.

The country has so far administered a total of 1,139,644 COVID-19 vaccine doses as of April 11. Of this figure, 1,007,356 doses were given as the first dose and 132,288 people were provided as the second dose.

Food and Drug Administration Director-General Eric Domingo earlier said that all health issues experienced by a vaccine beneficiary within 30 days after vaccination are counted as suspected AEFI cases. The NAEFIC then investigates if the events are directly linked to vaccination.

Health experts have been stressing that the benefits outweigh the risks of vaccination as the government urges the public to get their COVID-19 vaccine jab when it’s their turn.

EDV