Seeking to at least address the vaccine hesitancy among the Filipinos, the president of the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI) expressed willingness Thursday, Feb. 25, to have himself inoculated with China’s Sinovac vaccine or CoronaVac.
PSAAI President and National Adverse Event Following Immunization Committee member Dr. Rommel Lobo asked the public to overcome their fears, saying that the vaccine is an “additional protection” against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Ang sagot ko po dyan ay absolutely yes po. Kasi ang bakuna makakatulong po sa atin , makakaprotekta sa atin (My answer to that is absolutely yes. Because vaccine will help us, it can protect us) ,” he said during the Laging Handa briefing when asked if he is willing to receive the Sinovac vaccine.
"Kapag po in-analyze natin, sabi nila 50 percent or 50.3 percent protection, 50.3 percent protection is better than zero, 'yun po ang dapat isipin (If we analyse it, they say 50 or 50.3 percent protection is better than zero, that we should bear in mind),” he pointed out.
In a televised government press briefing on Monday, Feb.22, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said after a thorough and rigorous review of the currently available published and unpublished data by the country’s regulatory and medical experts, the FDA has granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) to Sinovac’s vaccine, known as SARS-CoV-2 vaccine Vero Cell Inactivated, or the CoronaVac.
However, he said the efficacy rate of Sinovac vaccine for healthcare workers is at 50.4 percent.
“Pag ka-in-analyze nyo na maigi, 'yung pong self analysis po dun sa Sinovac, nakita rin po nya meron ding 70 plus percent protection for severe or moderate to severe COVID, tapos makakatulong pa rin po sa atin. Kaya po ang sagot ko po sa tanong nyo ay yes, magpapabakuna po ako ng Sinovac pag 'yan po ang inoffer (If you analyze it carefully, the self-anlaysis on Sinovac, it was found that it has 70 plus percent protection for severe or moderate to severe COVID, then it will help us. That’s my answer to your question is yes, I will have myself vaccinated with Sinovac if that will be offered),” Lobo said.
According to the data provided by Sinovac Biotech, the efficacy rate of the Sinovac vaccine is at 65 to 91 percent on non-healthcare workers or people in the community.
Lobo said those who will be excluded to receive the jabs are those who developed allergic reactions on the first dose.
“Kaya bago po kayo bakunahan, may mga doctor na magtatanong sa inyo dapat sagutin nyo po ng tapat para malaman po natin kung kayo po ay dapat bantayan after bakunahan (Before your vaccination, the doctors will ask you, you should answer them honestly so that we would know if you need to be put under monitoring after the vaccination),” he said.
The PSAAI official said among those who need COVID-19 vaccination were those who contracted COVID, and those patients with comorbidities such as hypertensive, asthmatic, and diabetic.
“Puwede po kayo na magpabakuna, mas higit po ang benepisyong makukuha nyo kaysa sa kinatatakot nyong reaksyon. Pagisipan nyo pong mabuti (You can be vaccinated, you will get more benefits rather than being cowed by the possible adverse reaction. Think carefully.)” he said.
Malacañang said the Sinovac vaccines will arrive in the country on Sunday, Feb. 28.