At this time, experts agree that the vaccine for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) might not be for everyone.
To shed light on misconceptions on the COVID-19 vaccine, the University of the Philippines (UP) and National Telehealth Center gathered experts in a webinar entitled “Who Should Not Be Vaccinated for COVID-19?” on Friday, Feb. 5.
Dr. Nina Berba, an Infectious Disease expert and Professor of Medicine UP PGH and Dr. Shelley-Ann dela Vega, a leading Gerontologist and expert in aging and health of the UP National Institutes of Health discussed the who should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine based on their existing conditions.
Dr. Inday Dans, a pediatrician and clinical epidemiologist, also shared her views on the recent developments on vaccination for children. During the webinar, the panel answered the following questions:
If a person has an underlying disease - like cancer, diabetes and hypertension, among others - should the vaccine be given?
“Yes, but consult your physician,” Berba said, especially for adults with cancer “because you may be receiving agents also.” Adults with diabetes and hypertension, she added, should definitely receive the vaccine because they have risk factors for severe manifestation of COVID-19. “The vaccine is for you,” she added.
Can people with allergies be vaccinated for COVID-19?
It depends. “If you had a rash in the first dose, don’t proceed with the second dose,” Berba warned. For those with allergies to other vaccines, they should consult with their allergists first. “If food allergies and others, as long as it is not connected with the vaccine, then it’s safe,” she added.
Dans also stressed that should “anyone with severe allergy or anaphylaxis” decide to get vaccinated for COVID-19, they should need “longer observation period compared to other vaccinees.”
Should all senior citizens receive the vaccine?
“Yes,” Dela Vega said. Senior citizens or older people - especially those with illness - should definitely get COVID-19 vaccination because having these illnesses become “all the more reason for you to get vaccinated.”
Can a person with chronic or previous infection be vaccinated?
“Yes, as long as you are stable or over the acute infection,” Berba explained. This is crucial for those with chronic infections or those whose immune systems are compromised like patients with tuberculosis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Will children be vaccinated?
“Not yet,” Dans said since the available COVID-19 vaccines were not developed and approved for children below 16 years old.
How about pregnant women and lactating mothers?
“Yes,” Berba said, noting that there is “no contraindication for women to receive the vaccine.” However, she said that they also have to “weigh the risks and benefits” and discuss this with their obstetrician/gynecologist.
In general, Berba said that if the pregnant woman belongs to high risk groups, a healthcare worker or in a situation where community transmission is high, “the benefit of getting the vaccine outweighs the risks.”
For lactating or breastfeeding mothers, Berba said that supposedly, the vaccine does not get into the breast milk. “So yes, you can.”
Can people with COVID-19 infection before get vaccinated?
Yes, but not immediately. “If you had COVID-19 before, the assumption is maybe, you have antibodies already,” Berba said. “But we also know, and are not sure, whether the antibodies that you have are durable enough to last you whenever,” she added.
“The assumption is that if you had COVID-19 infection before, you might be at risk and you can definitely have a reinfection,” Berba said. Based on the current data, she noted that the natural immunity stays from 90 days to at most 6 months, “so it needs to be boosted by a vaccine.”