After the arrival of 525,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from the COVAX Global Facility, WHO Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe ascertained the next batch will arrive before June 2021.
“We believe new stocks of AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive before the 12th week from the arrival of the vaccines on the 4th of March, this will be in June.”
Dr. Abeyasinghe explained at the Laging Handa Public Briefing, the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will show maximum benefit if administered within 10 to 12 weeks since the first shot.
“We believe that the country will receive further stocks of AstraZeneca before that (June) so that we can ensure that all the healthcare workers who received the first dose will be able to get the second dose before the 12th week.”
No link between AstraZeneca and blood clots
WHO affirmed that AstraZeneca vaccines are safe and effective, hence, the issue of blood clots should be put to rest.
The European Medicines Agency in its website stated that “the benefits of the vaccine in combating the still widespread threat of COVID-19 continue to outweigh the risk of side effects”.
AstraZeneca is also “not associated with an increase in the overall risk of blood clots (thromboembolic events) in those who receive it.”
Countries that temporarily halted AstraZeneca use have restarted using them including France and Germany.
Despite this, WHO cautioned “national authorities need to monitor carefully for side effects and we encourage countries using AstraZeneca vaccines to do that.”
Russia’s Sputnik V
As the country expects the arrival of Sputnik V on the first half of April after its recent Emergency Use Authorization approval, the volume is yet to be determined, although Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier announced the government is planning to procure some 2 million doses of the Russian vaccine in April.
Sputnik V is still not included in the list of vaccines available in the COVAX Global Facility but Dr. Abeyasinghe asserted it is being pondered on because of its high efficacy rate.
“It is a vaccine being considered by WHO for EUL listing because of its reported high efficacy but the process is not yet complete so it cannot be part of the COVAX order of vaccines until WHO grants EUL for Sputnik V.”
As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the Philippines, WHO representative underscored it becomes critically important to vaccinate healthcare workers especially in areas with higher cases.
“We know that with one dose of vaccine there is protection of over 75% and so it’s important that we provide that protection to the healthcare workers so they can continue to care for those people who fall sick from COVID-19 in those areas of increased transmission.” – Naomi Tiburcio
