Food and Drug Administration (FDA) director general Eric Domingo said the second dose of most vaccines usually causes stronger side effects than the first shot.
“For most of the vaccines, the second dose really has more adverse effects, more side effects that patients feel,” he said on ANC, amid reports on supposed adverse events like fever and vomiting after the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna.
The FDA chief said the first dose introduces the body to the vaccine for it to start generating anti-bodies in the first few weeks after it was given.
“So pagdating ng second dose mas malakas ‘yung immunologic reaction,” FDA chief Domingo said.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque earlier urged the senators to create a law for indemnification of Filipinos who would experience adverse side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
“Hindi naman po kasi pwede ipagkaila na hindi mangyayari o walang walang mangyayaring adverse events. Hopefully wala, pero alam naman po natin kahit na papano, itong mga bakuna ay talagang may kaakibat na adverse events,” Duque said at a Senate hearing.
“Ito pong indemnification fund na aming ipinapanukala ay para po doon sa mga kababayan natin na pag naturukan ay magkaroon po ng adverse effects or side effects following immunization,” Duque added.
Second dose of vaccine to cause stronger side effects – FDA chief
Senator Risa Hontiveros said she noted Duque’s suggestion but said that they do not have a consensus yet if the Bayanihan 3 would be pushed.
In December 2020, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he filed a Bayanihan 3 bill worth P400 billion to boost the country’s economic recovery amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“I filed a Bayanihan 3 [bill] of roughly around P400 billion,” Recto said in an interview on ANC.
Recto said most of the measures under his proposed Bayanihan 3 would augment the budget for COVID-19 vaccines.
“Remember, you would be paying an advance for these vaccines. Di bale nang sumobra pa ‘yung bayad natin and provide for 100% of the population without even mandating it, but it’s available kung gusto nila puwede silang magpabakuna. That’s how it should work. Hindi ‘yung 60-70% lang, nagtitipid tayo,” he added.