Caloocan death not caused by Covid-19 vaccine

MANILA – The death of a 54-year-old male from Caloocan City was not caused by the coronavirus vaccine, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarified in a news release on Saturday.

Upon receipt of the report, which was also posted on social media on April 8, the DOH alerted the Regional Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee (RAEFIC) to conduct a causality assessment to determine if the vaccine had indeed caused the reaction.

The RAEFIC, as concurred with by the National AEFIC, DOH and FDA, concluded that the Covid-19 vaccine did not cause the stroke; the adverse event is inconsistent with the causal association to the vaccine; and the adverse event is coincidental with underlying or emerging conditions of the fatality.

As of April 8, Caloocan had vaccinated 5,698 medical front-liners, 1,584 seniors citizens, and 14,963 with comorbidities.

The city still has 1,419 active cases as of Friday after 144 new infections were confirmed.

The DOH and FDA reminded anew all vaccination sites to strictly follow screening protocols in the assessment of potential vaccine recipients.

The public is also asked to fully disclose underlying conditions during registration.

Both agencies strongly emphasized that vaccines are safe and effective in giving protection against and preventing the severe form of Covid-19.

“With the expansion of the national vaccination program to cover senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, the DOH and FDA likewise urge the public to avail of the free vaccines to acquire the protection it provides not only for yourselves but also for your families,” the news release read. (PR)