Individuals who will experience serious adverse events following immunization against COVID-19 can now avail of the indemnification package being offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“Actually it took effect already because this was already posted in a national daily. So this is already in effect,” said PhilHealth Vice President for Corporate Affairs Shirley Domingo during an online forum on Tuesday, June 29.

“Ang compensation package na ito ay para doon serious adverse effects, hospitalization, and pag nagkaroon ng permanent disability, and para din doon sa death resulting from immunization (This compensation package is for serious adverse effects, hospitalization, and permanent disability, and also for death resulting from immunization),” said Domingo.

For hospitalization, the maximum amount that can be availed of is P100,000, she said.

“The claim corresponds to remaining charges on top of PhilHealth benefits and other health benefits provided by private health insurances and health management organizations,” said Domingo.

For permanent disability or death, there is a lump sum of P100,000 but “paid once per beneficiary,” said Domingo.

The main beneficiary of this package are those people who suffered serious adverse events following their COVID-19 vaccination.

“In the event of death or permanent disability na hindi makaka-claim yung na vaccinate, yung primary beneficiaries ang pwedeng mag claim nito (In the event of death or permanent disability, the primary beneficiaries can claim it). These are the legal spouse.. or children, legitimate, legitimated, or the acknowledged illegitimate,” noted Domingo.

“Kung walang ganyan, mga primary beneficiaries, then yung secondary beneficiaries can claim. Ito yung legitimate parents ng principal beneficiary (If there is no such thing---the primary beneficiaries, then the secondary beneficiaries can claim it. These are the legitimate parents of the principal beneficiary),” she added.