DOH to vaccinees: Do not skip 2nd dose of COVID vaccine

A health official reminded those who have received the first dose of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine not to skip their second shot.

In an interview over DZBB on Wednesday, May 6, Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje said side effects caused by the vaccine is among the factors making people skip their second shot.

Three of the vaccines in use in the Philippines -- AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Sputnik V -- require that people get a second dose to achieve maximum protection that the vaccines provide.

"May konting proteksyon [ang first dose], pero nabu-boost yan sa second dose (The first dose offers little protection, and it is boosted by the second dose)," Cabotaje said.

Cabotaje said fear of the side effects of the second dose and trouble getting an appointment due to the current COVID-19 surge are among the reasons people cite for missing their second dose

"Maraming dahilan, unang-una nagkaroon sila ng side effects, kailangangang ikumbinsi na temporary lang ang side effects. Pangalawa, dahil nga sa nag-surge, nakaquarantine o naka-isolate, (There are many reasons. First maybe they had side effects. It is important to convince them that side effects are only temporary. Second, because of the surge, they are currently quarantined or isolated)," she added.

The DOH announced in April that COVID-19 patients who have already recovered from the disease need not wait 90 days after they tested positive for the disease to get the shot.

Patients may get vaccinated against the virus two weeks after recovering from the disease.

"Dalawang linggo pag nakarecover na pwede, wag lang mas maaga sa schedule ng interval. Pwede later, wag lang mas maaga (They can get vaccinated two weeks after they have recovered, but not earlier than the scheduled interval. It can be done later, but not earlier)," Cabotaje stressed.

The Philippines has so far received 4.4 million vaccine doses, 3.5 million doses of which were from China's Sinovac Biotech, 525,600 doses from AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, and 15,000 doses of Sputnik V from the Gamaleya Institute of Russia.