Eligible vaccine recipients need not to worry as Department of Health (DOH) assured them that they will still be informed of the brand of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine they will receive during their vaccination appointment.

“Bago naman iturok, sasabihin talaga iyon (Before it will be injected, of course, you will be informed),” said DOH-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Dr. Gloria Balboa in a radio interview on Thursday, May 20.

During a public press briefing on Wednesday, May 19, DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that they will be suggesting the non-disclosure of vaccine brands that will be made available in vaccination sites to avoid large crowd due to vaccine preference.

“The Department of Health urged local government units (LGUs) not to use vaccine brands in promoting their respective vaccination activities, following reports of people flocking vaccination sites after finding out that a specific brand of vaccine will be given there,” the DOH said in a statement on Thursday.

The DOH noted that “not announcing what brand will be available in inoculation sites will not take away the right of individuals to be informed of the vaccine they are taking.”

“(This) as the vaccination process entails on-site vaccine education, proper recording using vaccination cards, and monitoring for Adverse Events Following Immunization,” it said.

The DOH reiterated that all COVID-19 vaccines issued with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are safe and effective against COVID-19.

All COVID-19 vaccines with EUA in the Philippines underwent evaluation processes conducted by the FDA, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and other vaccine expert groups, the DOH said.

“All vaccines available now in the country are safe, effective, and have been found to reduce risk of severe illness and prevent death after completing the required doses,” it assured.

“Demand generation and increasing vaccine confidence should be a joint effort of the national government, LGUs, private sector, civil society organizations, and partners from the media. We have to be reminded that vaccine confidence should be built in the stringent processes that lead to the vaccine development, local authorization, and recommended use of these vaccines, and definitely not by the brand,” it added.

The DOH encouraged eligible recipients to register with their local government units (LGUs) and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.