The Department of Health (DOH) said Friday that getting a vaccine will prevent an individual from being severely affected by a disease.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the statement as the mass vaccination in the United Kingdom (UK) commenced using the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech.
The said COVID-19 vaccine could cause allergic reactions to individuals with food and/or medical allergies, UK regulator Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned.
Vergeire said there is still no vaccine that could provide a hundred percent protection.
“Sa ngayon, wala pong 100% na bakuna na makakaprovide ng 100% [protection]. Sa measles po, halimbawa, 93% po after first dose but this increases to 97% after second dose. Sa polio po, after three doses, it reaches 99%. Wala pa hong bakuna na nakakereach ng 100%, but these vaccines can prevent an individual from suffering from the severe form of the disease," Vergeire stated.
“Katulad po ng vaccines that we use on children, hindi po 100% but the vaccine will prevent further complications from the disease. Katulad po ng bakuna laban chicken pox, iyong iba na nabakunahan, nagkakaroon pa rin [ng chicken pox] pero in mild form na lang since the vaccine prevents the person from developing the severe type of infection,” she added.
Moreover, Vergeire said that a common side effect of a new vaccine or medicine is having allergies.
“Lahat ng bagong technology, may it be medicines or vaccines, common na side effect iyong allergies. Kaya nga tinatanong tayo ng mga doktor before we are given a medicine or vaccine, if we are allergic to something like food or drug we took before," she stated.
“Ang gamot o bakuna kasi ay foreign material na ipinapasok sa ating katawan. Pero the effect is different across different individuals. Hindi porket na-allergy ako, ma-a-allergy rin ang isang kasama ko. Kaya magkakaroon tayo ng inclusion and exclusion criteria [kung sino ang puwedeng tumanggap ng isang partikular na bakuna],” she added.
COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be available in March and April 2021. Health Secretary Francisco Doque III said earlier that one-fifth of the population will be getting the first jab, including the health workers.
As of 4 PM, December 11, the Philippines has recorded a total of 447, 039 cases. A number of 409, 329 recovered while 8, 709 died.
Words by Vina Pastrana
Layout by Kiziah Magbanua
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