By Alec Go
The Department of Health (DOH) clarified that COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries will still be informed of the vaccine brand that will be administered to them despite the no-vaccine brand public announcement policy.
According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, vaccine recipients will be counseled and will eventually have a chance to give their informed consent upon their arrival in vaccination sites.
“Hindi po porke hindi in-announce ng ating local government ay hindi na nila malalaman ang itinuturok sa kanila,” Vergeire said in the Laging Handa Public Briefing on May 22.
“Iyong mga past days na nasabi na nga natin na wala nang announcement ng brand, mataas pa rin naman po ang nakita nating pagbabakuna, especially within NCR Plus bubble,” she added.
Both Vergeire and Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim of the DOH technical advisory group, who were present at the briefing, agreed that vaccine preference affects the public’s confidence on COVID-19 vaccines.
The government recently directed local government units to avoid publicly announcing the brand of vaccines to be used in a particular site to avoid crowding.
The DOH already said in a statement on May 21 that informed consent “will always be a prerequisite to vaccination,” and urged the public to get vaccinated since all products approved by stringent regulatory bodies are safe and effective.
“‘Pag tiningnan ho natin ngayon ang real world data, makikita ho natin na iyong mga bakunang nasa bansa natin ngayon have good performance against infections, preventing hospitalizations, preventing deaths,” Vergeire said.
The health official said they have also considered scenarios wherein vaccinated individuals will disclose the brand to others. She said crowding can be avoided through issuing advisories that only individuals on the master list can go to the site. -rir
