54-yr-old man’s stroke ‘no link with vaccine’: DOH

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said the coronavirus vaccine did not cause the stroke suffered by a man who was earlier vaccinated.

“Following the conclusion of the causality assessment conducted by the RAEFIC (Regional Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee), as concurred with by the National AEFIC, the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today report that the Covid-19 vaccine did not cause the stroke,” the DOH said in a statement.

It added that the adverse event is “inconsistent with the causal association” to the vaccine and that it was “coincidental” to the patient’s underlying or emerging conditions.

The DOH said a social media post circulated on April 8 that the 54-year old male from Caloocan City suffered a stroke after getting his vaccine shot.

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

“The public is also called on to fully disclose their underlying conditions during registration for the Covid-19 vaccine,” the DOH said.

At the same time, it emphasized that vaccines are “safe and effective in affording protection against Covid-19 and in 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 Covid-19 vaccines to acquire the protection it provides not only for yourselves, but also for your families,” it said.