DOH studies effects of mixing different COVID-19 vaccine brands

The Department of Health (DOH) studies the possible side effects of different vaccines given in the first and second doses.

Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they have already contacted the Department of Science and Technology and the Vaccine Expert Panel to conduct a study on this.

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“Nakakita sila ng isang bansa na nag-aaral na nitong mixing and matching of vaccines and that would be in UK,” said Vergeire.

He said the DOH is ready to wait for the results of any study on the combination of vaccines until there is evidence that it is safe.

The VEP has an initial study that finds a ‘theoretical basis.’ But because this is just a theory, more information and evidence are still needed.

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In January, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that using two different -19 vaccine brands is not recommended.

“You would not want to toy with the idea of giving different vaccines for the simple reason that if an adverse event following immunization does happen, or an adverse event of special interest, we are going to struggle to identify which of these two different vaccines must have caused it,” Duque told the Senate Committee of the Whole when asked by Senate President  III.

DOH studies effects of mixing different COVID-19 vaccine brands

Dr. Lulu Bravo, the chairperson of the Philippine Medical Association’s Adhoc Committee on Vaccination, also warned against such practice.

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“This is not recommended. Interchangeability, that’s what we call it, is actually a no-no because no company will be willing to do a study on that kind of process,” she said.

“Most of the results that we will get if this will be done will not really be based on standard procedures,” she added.

Meanwhile, government Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. urged the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) to allow the construction of a mega vaccination site in the area, a  the foundation is unsure of.

Galvez said the planned vaccination center would be able to facilitate around 10,000 individuals daily.

 seeks to vaccinate 500,000 individuals daily in the National Capital Region, and 200,000 individuals nationwide.

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