By Alec Go
The Department of Health (DOH) urged the public anew to get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying the majority of reported side effects are mild.
Based on its data, only 1.44% percent of the recipients of 4,495,375 doses administered as of May 25 reported experiencing side effects, which were considered ‘mild’ and lasted for a few days.
DOH said the most common side effects are pain at the injection site, headache, body pain, blood pressure rise, sweating, and skin redness.
Dr. Lulu Bravo, National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee (NAEFIC) chairperson and Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director, said in the June 8 Laging Handa briefing that there have been no red flags yet on the vaccines.
She said reported post-inoculation hospitalizations were not caused by the vaccine, but by underlying health conditions or undetected COVID-19 infection.
“Maski na marami tayong sinasabing report na may adverse event, ‘yun naman ay mga minor kagaya ng lagnat, pagsakit ng ulo, pagkakaroon ng sakit ng tiyan, medyo nasusuka o nagtatae. ‘Yan naman ay expected natin,” she said.
As of June 7, the Philippines has already administered a total of 6,096,208 COVID-19 jabs to priority groups A1 to A4. – jlo
