According to the group of allergy experts, Filipinos have nothing to fear from vaccines against COVID-19.
According to the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI), the only contraindications listed or banned from getting the vaccine are those who are already allergic to the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 and its contents.
One of these is polyethylene glycol which is encapsulated in the genetic code or RNA of COVID-19 to be injected into the human body or polysorbate which is used in other vaccines.
“All vaccinated patients should be observed for 30 minutes after vaccination, kung hindi kayo nagre-react… puwede kayong mabakunahan kahit kayo naka-experience dati ng pamamantal o allergic reaction,” said Dr. Rommel Lobo, president of PSAAI.
“If you’re an asthmatic and on maintenance medication of inhaled steroids, usually it is not a contraindication for you to be vaccinated,” he added.
He said it is important to know what causes allergy because it is usually due to dust mite or other triggers that cause asthma.
He also said that people with food allergies do not have a problem because it has nothing to do with the content of the vaccine.
According to Lobo, who is also a member of the National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee of the Philippines, only a few have a really serious allergy to the vaccine in a million who will be vaccinated.
Allergy experts clarify nothing to fear about COVID-19 vaccines
But if so-called anaphylaxis occurs, in which a person may have difficulty breathing and lower blood pressure, there is a cure for it.
“Ang pinaka-priority drug, epinephrine, you can inject intramuscular sa lateral thigh. You can even inject epinephrine through clothing. Hindi na kailangan tanggalin ang damit. Give every 5 to 15 minutes depending on your assessment,” the doctor said.
It is said that the supply of epinephrine in the country is sufficient and the health worker can prepare it for immediate use.
“Ang epinephrine is a wonder drug that would arrest the continuation or evolution of symptoms that you are suffering from… At the same time there is also a reversal of the symptoms,” said Lobo.
For the elderly, it is still important to consult their allergist to make sure the vaccine does not react to the drugs they use.
Lobo, on the other hand, said that it is also good not to take anti-histamine before getting vaccinated because it can delay the severe allergic reaction that should be prevented immediately.