DOH: Gov’t to shoulder treatment for COVID-19 vaccine side effects

MANILA, Philippines — The government will shoulder the treatment of Filipinos who will experience adverse effects of the coronavirus vaccine, the Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, a committee has been tasked to monitor possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccination.

“Ito po ay kasama sa programa natin and sa katunayan ngayon po meron tayong National Adverse Effect Following Immunization Committee na ito po ang magmomonitor para makita natin talaga kung ito bang mga adverse reactions ay dahil talaga sa bakuna o may iba pang factor kung bakit nagkaroon ng ganitong reaction,” Vegeire said in a televised Laging Handa Public Briefing.

“Mayroon na pong naihanda ang ating gobyerno itong tinatawag na mga benepisyo o kaya ay mga pagsagot sa paggamot ng ating mga kababayan na magkakaroon ng mga ganitong reaksyon sa bakuna,” she added.

The government is eyeing to inoculate 70 million Filipinos this year to achieve herd immunity against the viral illness that has already infected over 491,000 people nationwide.

But nearly half of Filipinos, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey, said they would refuse being inoculated against the coronavirus over safety concerns.

KGA