MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday denounced health professionals who are allegedly purveyors of false information about COVID-19 vaccines.
“The DOH condemns health professionals who have been spreading false information regarding life-saving interventions such as COVID-19 vaccines. It is especially irresponsible as the country continues to face the threat of the more infectious Delta variant,” the DOH said in a statement, reacting to the viral radio interview of Dr. Romeo Quijano.
In the interview, Quijano claimed that COVID-19 vaccines are more dangerous than the virus itself.
But the DOH countered Quijano, noting the “growing number of real-world evidence globally which have consistently shown that COVID-19 vaccines have led to significant reductions in hospitalizations and deaths among vaccinated individuals.”
“Moreover, despite increases in COVID-19 cases in these countries, the same rate of increase is NOT seen in hospitalization and deaths,” the health agency added.
It likewise tagged as “irresponsible” some media outlets that allow misinformation in their platforms as it may affect individuals who plan to get inoculated.
“Maging maingat at responsable po tayo sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon sa ating mga kababayan,” the DOH appealed.
(Let us be careful and responsible in propagating information to our fellow Filipinos.)
RELATED STORIES
Fully vaccinated persons in the Philippines now at 12 million — Palace
DOH: We’re addressing deficiencies in management of P67.32-B COVID funds
More than 800k doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines arrive in PH