BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya (April 17)—At least 516 individuals in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) who received Coronavac and AstraZeneca vaccines experienced minor adverse effects but are now in stable condition, according to the Department of Health (DoH).
Joyce Maquera, DoH Region 2 vaccination focal person, said these individuals were among the 24,209 who received the said vaccines since the start of the government vaccination program called “Resbakuna.”
“Those who had minor adverse events are now in stable condition. Side effects are normal. A sign the body is building protection from the dreaded disease,” Maquera explained.
She said discomfort from fever or pain is normal in most cases and there is only need to ask for assistance from a healthcare provider when the redness or tenderness from the jab increases after 24 hours.
“If the side effects are becoming worrisome or do not seem to be subsiding after a few days, then a health care provider may be needed for assistance,” Maquera said.
DoH Region 2 recorded some 20 individuals who received shots experienced serious effects.
It also showed among these 20 individuals, there were four deaths recorded.
The Regional Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee (RAEFIC) assessment showed three were considered co-incidental as they turned positive for Covid-19 with comorbidities before vaccination and that causes of death were not related to the vaccine.
The RAEFIC, however, said the other case was sent to the DoH central office for further assessment as it was indeterminate, according to Maquera.
Meanwhile, there were 808 individuals whose inoculations were deferred because of exposure to Covid-19 and some were having signs and symptoms of the disease while others were under facility quarantine.
Maquera said 159 individuals were afraid to be vaccinated while others refused citing religious convictions.
During the ongoing vaccination program, there were wastages as some vials had cracks and had to be discarded for safety purposes.
Maquera said the Covid-19 vaccination network formed by the DoH is ready anytime there will be more people submitting themselves to the government’s vaccination program.
“In addition to an on-call group of medical frontliners from different agencies like the Department of Education and the Philippine National Police, we have a ready back-up vaccination team in case we would be needing some more to assist local government units,” Maquera said.
She added Sputnik V developed by Russian firm Gamaleya is expected to arrive in the country.
There are no cold-storage facilities in the region, however, that can maintain a temperature of negative 18 degrees Celsius for this vaccine.
Maquera said there is currently no Sputnik V vaccine allotment for the Cagayan Valley region.