PH to continue use of AstraZeneca jabs vs. Covid-19

MANILA – The Philippine government will continue using AstraZeneca vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) even as European countries suspended their use over reported blood clots in some inoculated individuals.

In a joint statement released on Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) echoed the position of the European Medicine Authority (EMA) that “the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks.”

Both agencies said they are aware that, as a precautionary measure, some European countries have halted their vaccination campaign with AstraZeneca jabs as they conduct a full investigation to determine if there is a link between the jabs and the blood clots.

“At present, the DOH and FDA emphasize that there is no indication for the Philippines to stop (the) rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines,” the joint statement read.

They assured that the government would closely monitor all deployed vaccines as the DOH and FDA coordinate with the National Task Force Against Covid-19 over reports of adverse events abroad.

Denmark, Iceland, and Norway paused their vaccination program with AstraZeneca while a full investigation is ongoing whether the shot could be linked to reports of blood clots, including one case in Denmark where a person died.

The EMA, in a report released on Thursday, said there is “currently no indication that vaccination has caused” the reported blood clots, which are not listed as side effects of the shots.

“The position of EMA’s safety committee PRAC (Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee) is that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh its risks and the vaccine can continue to be administered while investigation of cases of thromboembolic events is ongoing,” the EMA said.

AstraZeneca’s vaccine against Covid-19, given to people 18 years and older, is made up of another virus (of the adenovirus family) that has been modified to contain the gene for making a protein from SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the disease.

AstraZeneca’s shots do not contain the virus itself and cannot cause Covid-19.

According to EMA, the vaccine has mild to moderate side effects, including pain where the injection is given, fatigue, chills, headache, and fever.

In case of a severe allergic reaction, patients are advised to get urgent medical attention.

Such reactions may include a combination of feeling light-headed, changes in heartbeat, shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling of lips or throat, hives or rash, nausea or vomiting, and stomach pain.