DOH looking at scrapping vital signs screening before COVID -19 vaccination

(FILE) Health workers receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at Hulo Integrated School in
Mandaluyong City. —LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday it is studying if the screening of vaccinees for vital signs can be omitted before their vaccination against COVID-19 as recommended by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and the Philippine Society of Hypertension (PSH).

“Actually pinagaaralan namin ‘yan at kami naman po ay sumasang-ayon sa kanilang obserbasyon na medyo dumami ‘yung deferrals natin because of this blood pressure taking,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo when asked of the recommendation from the two institutions.

(Actually, we are studying that recommendation and we agree with their observation that the deferrals have increased because of blood pressure taking.)

“Kailangan lang namin pag-aralan pa ng mas maigi kung pwede nang tanggalin ‘yung vital signs screening pag tayo ay nagpapabakuna,” she added.

(We just need to study more if we can remove the vital signs screening when vaccinating.)

In a statement dated April 14, the PHA and PSH said “there is no need to take vital signs (blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate) during screening unless the vaccinee is in distress which warrants further evaluation.”

The PHA and PSH noted that they have observed “significant” vaccination deferrals and delay due to blood pressure elevations “that to date have not resulted in any serious nor life-threatening events established to be related to COVID-19 vaccines.”

DOH guidelines state that individuals with a blood pressure of 180/120 or higher with signs and symptoms of organ damage during the screening process will not be vaccinated.

“Ang nangyayari, ‘yung ating mga healthcare workers, kapag ang blood pressure ng tao ay medyo mataas lang kaysa doon sa usual o normal, hindi na po nila binibigyan ng bakuna,” said Vergeire.

(What happens is, some healthcare workers do not vaccinate individuals if they have blood pressure that is slightly higher than normal.)

Vergeire said the DOH will release further guidelines on vaccination to align with the recommendation of the PHA and PSH.

/MUF