In a webinar on Tuesday, the Philippine College of Physicians stressed that those with medical conditions or comorbidities need the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Kasi hindi lang mild ang kanilang (mga may comorbidity) magiging COVID kundi maaaring maging moderate hanggang severe,” said Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus.
The webinar quoted the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology as saying that the chances of being hospitalized when COVID-19 infected people with comorbidities such as asthma, high blood pressure, overweight or obese, diabetes, with kidney disease or chronic kidney disease, severely obese, and with more than 2 comorbidities.
One in 9 who gets sick with COVID-19 has diabetes.
“Ang tsansa ng isang pasyenteng may diabetes na may COVID-19 na mamatay ay doble kompara sa isang taong walang diabetes,” said Nicodemus.
One in 5 Filipinos has high blood pressure.
According to Dr. Deborah Ona of the Philippine General Hospital, you can get vaccinated even if you are taking maintenance medication.
About 20 percent of those with COVID-19 who have kidney disease and are on dialysis or a kidney transplant may die, said Dr. Maaliddin Biruar of the Philippine Society of Nephrology.
Those with comorbidities important to be vaccinated: doctors
“Kung kayo po ay nagda-dialysis at nagka-COVID-19 kayo, mas madali po kayong magkaroon ng severe disease at mas mataas po ‘yong risk na kayo ay mamatay… dahil mahina po ang inyong immunte system katulad din po ito ng transplant patients.”
Once again, the Department of Health reminded that a person vaccinated against COVID-19 should still follow minimum health standards.
Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that over 2.45% or 24,698 out of more than 1 million Filipinos vaccinated against COVID-19 reported experiencing side effects or adverse event following immunization (AEFI).
FDA chief Eric Domingo said 17,654 AEFI received AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine while 7,044 received Sinovac’s CoronaVac.
A total of 24,330 cases were non-serious, 344 were serious reactions not involving death, and 24 cases involving death.
The most common reported side effects were fever, headache, pain at the vaccination site, muscle pains, and increased blood pressure.
Meanwhile, serious side effects of COVID-19 vaccine would require hospital admission, involves death or a life-threatening reaction, and causes significant disability or birth defects and fetal malformations.
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