Trust experts, vaccines safe: UP-PGH

MANILA – The University of the Philippines-Manila College of Medicine (UPCM) and the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) have assured that coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines are safe and advised the public to trust national and international health institutions.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, UPCM and the PGH emphasized their commitment to “evidence-based practice of medicine” as many of their experts have volunteered to be part of different government task forces and expert panels against Covid-19.

“As a community of scholars, we appeal to the public to trust the official statements from Department of Health (DOH), the Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and professional specialty of physician organizations like the Philippine Medical Association,” the UPCM and PGH said.

It cautioned the public against statements from individuals, physicians, and former or retired faculty as these are personal and “do not necessarily reflect the official stand of the UPCM”.

“Statements that allude to the dangers of vaccination, promotion of the use of alternative, and repurposed medications that are still under study at the PGH are irresponsible when made public while claiming previous affiliation with the UPCM or the PGH,” the joint statement read.

Signed by Dr. Charlotte Chiong, UPCM professor and dean, and PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, the statement asked the public to follow safety protocols against Covid-19 and to get vaccinated.

“’Wag magpadala sa mga kuro-kuro, pala-palagay, at makinig lamang sa mga kaukulang eksperto, galing sa pinagkakatiwalaang duktor ng pamilya o organisasyon ng mga duktor (Don’t believe in opinions and hearsays and only listen to experts such as a trusted family doctor or organization of doctors),” the UPCM and the PCG said.

In a separate statement, the UPCM Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology said the benefits of Covid-19 vaccines “far outweigh the risks”.

“We encourage all Filipinos to get vaccinated and to consult physicians with whom they can have balanced discussion of the various interventions for Covid-19 treatment and prevention,” the statement read.

Earlier, Malacañang and several health and infectious diseases experts slammed claims made by Dr. Romeo Quijano, a retired professor of the UPCM, that Covid-19 jabs are “more dangerous” than the disease.

The DOH said real-world evidence is growing worldwide that Covid-19 vaccines effectively reduce hospitalization and deaths among the vaccinated.