DOH 'content and happy' with 1st day of PH vaccination rollout
The Department of Health (DOH) said it is "content and happy" that the country has already started its vaccination program against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
(Photo by Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Ang tagal-tagal po natin hinintay and we are now vaccinating our healthcare workers na talagang sila naman po ang pinakaimportanteng mabakunahan (We have waited a long time but we are now vaccinating our healthcare workers who are really the most important to be vaccinated),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, March 2.
Vergeire said they appreciate the support of healthcare workers on the vaccination program.
"We saw that healthcare workers voluntarily had themselves vaccinated yesterday. Although our numbers are not yet that high, we are expecting and hoping that for the coming days, among the different hospitals, we will see an increase (in numbers) to protect our healthcare workers," she said.
In a separate briefing, Vergeire disclosed that 756 healthcare workers were already given vaccine jabs.
"We are expecting na tataas pa itong mga numero na ito dahil nadagdagan na rin po yung ibang mga ospital na babakunahan natin sa ngayon (We are expecting this numbers to increase because we will also start vaccination in other hospitals)," she said during the "Laging Handa" public briefing.
Vergeire said 20 people experienced minor adverse reactions.
They experienced pain in the injection site, some experienced itching and rashes, headache, nausea, and increase in blood pressure.
"Lahat po sila ay namonitor. Lahat po sila ay na managed accordingly, and lahat po sila ay umuwi, walang inadmit sa hospital (They were all monitored and managed accordingly. They all went home, no one was admitted to the hospital)," she said.
The DOH spokesperson assured that the hospitalization of those who will experience adverse reactions will be shouldered by the government.
"Considering that all of these vaccines are underdevelopment, considering that we have received and used a vaccine under EUA (emergency use authorization), the government is responsible for these adverse events that may occur," she said.
"Huwag lang na may gross negligence talaga (as long as there is no gross negligence) on the part of the manufacturer and also the healthcare worker," she added.
The DOH initially distributed Sinovac vaccines in six hospitals in Metro Manila on Monday, March 1.
These were in Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Caloocan City, Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippine National Police General Hospital in Quezon City, Victoriano Luna Medical Center in Quezon City, and Lung Center of the Philippines also located in Quezon City.
On Tuesday, March 2, other hospitals in Metro Manila also received the vaccines. These were in Sta. Ana Hospital in Manila, Pasig City General Hospital in Pasig City, Amang Rodriguez Medical Center in Marikina City, Pasay City General Hospital, and Taguig-Pateros District Hospital.