By NG Seruela
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said less than 1% out of over 10 million COVID-19 vaccinated individuals experienced adverse effects.
FDA Director-General Eric Domingo emphasized on Wednesday (July 14) that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk. He explained that the majority of vaccine recipients do not experience adverse effects, and only a few experience mild side effects following immunization.
“Sa ating adverse events reporting system online, ang naka-capture natin na may adverse events ay less than 1%,” he said.
“Karamihan ng nababakunahan, wala po silang nararamdamang adverse effect. Minority ang may nararamdaman na minor symptoms. [The] majority of patients will have no symptoms and no discomfort after vaccination,” he added.
Moreover, Domingo explained that no vaccine has a 100% efficacy rate, it is only between 70% and 95%. He added that the vaccines also have reduced efficacy against new variants.
“Although may reduced efficacy ang mga vaccines [sa mga bagong variants], bumababa lang ito ng mga siguro 10% up to 20%.”
Domingo reiterated that the public should continue to follow the minimum health protocols even after vaccination, because there are reports of vaccinated individuals who still acquire COVID-19. However, the majority experience mild symptoms.
“Between the first and second shot, mayroon pa rin po talagang nagkaroon ng COVID, pero karamihan sa kanila ay mild na,” he said.
He emphasized that by completing the second shot of the vaccine, the person’s protection against COVID-19 is higher. – jlo
