DOH: Nothing to worry about effectiveness of Sinovac vaccine

The Department of Health (DOH) insists that there is no need to worry about the efficacy rate of the vaccine by Chinese company Sinovac.

This coincides with reports that more than 350 medical workers injected with the said vaccine in Indonesia had COVID-19.

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According to DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, it is first necessary to know the percentage of vaccinated health workers in Indonesia to determine the efficacy rate of Sinovac there.

“Hindi po natin maikakaila na may breakthrough infections… Pero kailangan pa din po natin ng kumpletong datos para ma-analyze nang maigi. Let’s get the vaccine. Let us not be doubtful. Let’s give that confidence kahit may lumalabas na ganitong mga balita,” said Vergeire.

According to a Reuters report, dozens have been hospitalized due to fever and low oxygen levels.

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The COVID-19 outbreak in the area was also believed to be due to the more contagious Delta variant.

According to epidemiologist Dr. Edsel Salvana, COVID-19 vaccines remain effective against severe cases of COVID-19 and deaths.

DOH: Nothing to worry about effectiveness of Sinovac vaccine

“Sinovac ang ginamit sa kanila. Karamihan sa kanila asymptomatic or mild disease lang, so gumagana pa rin po ang bakuna. Kailangan lang nating malaman kung ilan ang partially vaccinated, fully vaccinated. Pero kasi titignan natin sa UK, ang gamit nila, Astrazeneca at Pfizer, 1/3 ng mga positive only got one dose of vaccines, and about 6.7 percent have completed vaccinations. Pero mas safe po talaga kung talagang tapusin natin ang two doses, and at least two weeks out from there,” said Salvana.

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CoronaVac vaccines from Sinovac are the most numerous vaccines today in the country. Of the more than 14.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses that arrived in the country, up to 9 million were produced by Sinovac.

Sen. Richard Gordon also reminded that the mistakes made in Indonesia’s handling of the pandemic should be examined.

“Some of the doctors have died, so there got to be an immediate review of what mistakes they are doing and that’s where you be careful,” said Gordon.

Vaccine “czar” Carlito Galvez Jr. is also waiting for the validated report and analysis of the vaccine expert panel concerning Sinovac vaccines in India.

But he believes it will not affect public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.

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