A total of 2,634 individuals have already received their first dose of Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday, May 5.
The rollout of the Russian-made vaccine started on Tuesday, May 4, after 15,000 doses of Sputnik V arrived on Saturday, May 1 in the Philippines.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the initial doses of Sputnik V vaccine were allotted to five cities within Metro Manila-- Makati, Manila, Paranaque, Taguig, and Muntinlupa.
“Yesterday, ang nag-umpisa lang ay ang Paranaque, Manila, and Makati. Ang Taguig at Muntinlupa ngayon sila mag-umpisa nitong Sputnik V inoculations (Yesterday, Paranaque, Manila, and Makati started . Taguig and Muntinlupa will start today the Sputnik V inoculations),” said Vergeire in a press briefing.
“Kahapon ang Paranaque, they were able to vaccinate 2,100 individuals para dito sa initial dose ng Sputnik V. Sa Manila 165 in Sta. Ana Hospital and most of them are healthcare workers. And for Makati, we had 369--giving a total of 2,634 vaccinees as of yesterday with the Sputnik V vaccine (Yesterday in Paranaque, they were able to vaccinate 2,100 individuals for the initial dose of Sputnik V. In Manila, 165 (people were inoculated) in Sta. Ana Hospital and most of them were healthcare workers. And for Makati, we had 369----giving a total of 2,634 vaccinees as of yesterday with the Sputnik V vaccine),” she added.
Vergeire said that individuals may experience some mild adverse events after getting vaccinated with Sputnik V.
“Based on the studies of the Vaccine Experts Panel, commonly ang side effects ng Sputnik V would be the pain in the inoculation site and yung more common symptoms na nararamdaman din ng mga kababayan natin sa ibang bakuna--yung parang tinatrangkaso, masakit ang katawan, masakit ang ulo (Based on the studies of the Vaccine Experts Panel----commonly, the side effects of Sputnik V would be the pain in the inoculation site, body aches, headache),” she said.
“Actually, our Vaccine Experts Panel said: Sputnik V is generally safe based on their evaluation,” she added.