The government is targeting zero casualties once the vaccination against COVID-19 begins.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. also assured that the Philippines will be more careful in choosing the vaccine to be used for senior citizens after 23 adults in Norway died after being vaccinated by Pfizer due to adverse reactions.
“Ang ating goal is zero casualty and as much as possible, very close watch,” Galvez said.
It is said that the task of the vaccine experts of the task group is to examine the vaccines used by various countries including its history to better choose the best vaccine.
“Ang task group na ginawa namin dito ay isang task group ng mga vaccine expert para talagang alalayan. Susuriin talaga natin ‘yung mga history, titignan natin,” he added.
According to the Norwegian Medicines Agency, the deaths of 23 senior citizens are linked to the COVID-19 vaccine given to them. The vaccine may have a detrimental effect on the bodies of the victims due to the poor health of the senior citizens.
According to Pfizer, those aged 85 and over, and those with serious illnesses should not be vaccinated.
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Gov’t targets zero COVID-19 vaccine-related death
It is not known if the Norwegian government complied with this policy.
After finding this out, Galvez said he immediately contacted Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III and they agreed that only those aged 18 to 59 will be subjected to the vaccination program while searching for a suitable vaccine for older people.
This is because based on Norway’s initial report, vaccination for 80-year-olds and above is dangerous so the task force will carefully evaluate the vaccine to be taken if it is really a complication.
The government targets to vaccinate 50-70 million individuals this year with an estimated 50,000 Filipinos to be vaccinated in February.
Galvez had earlier said that Pfizer could be the first to be used in vaccination in the country against COVID-19 because the COVIX facility will release the said vaccine early.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for Pfizer-BionTech.