Senior citizens need not to worry should they decide to receive China's Sinovac Biotech vaccine or CoronaVac.

A top official of the  Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) said so far, "no major side effects” have been recorded in countries using Sinovac vaccine for their elderly populace. 

Citing the data from other countries, DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime C. Montoya said Sinovac vaccines were “well-tolerated” by senior citizens.

“Yung nakitang side effect ay katulad din ng nakikita sa ibang bakuna katulad po ng konting lagnat, mayroong pamamaga o pananakit sa injection site, yung iba ay parang tratrangkasuhin ang pakiramdam , pero ito po ay nawawala one to two days (The side effect that is being observed is just the same with other vaccines such as slight fever, swelling or pain on the injection site, while others feel like they will catch the flu, but this will disappear one to two days) ,” he said in an interview with  Dobol B TV.

“Base sa datos na lumalabas sa mga  bansa na ginagamit ito sa senior citizens eh talagang napanatunayan na wala naman itong mga major side effects at well-tolerated ng ating mga senior citizens (Based on the data released by other countries using this for senior citizens, it was proven that it has no major side effects and well-tolerated by our senior citizens),” he stressed. 

He said despite having comorbidities, senior citizens said they can receive Sinovac jab provided their underlying medical conditions are controlled and they are monitored by their physicians. 

On Wednesday, April 7, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use the COVID-19 vaccine made by China’s Sinovac Biotech on senior citizens after "considering the recommendation of the vaccine experts panel (VEP) and the current situation of high COVID-19 transmission and limited available vaccines.”