ILOILO City – Health authorities and local officials here played down concerns that the China-made vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), CoronaVac of biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, is ineffective.
Indonesia reported last week over 350 outbreaks among medical professionals who took the vaccine.
More details are needed, according to the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6.
Dr. Jocelyn Te, medical officer at DOH-6, insisted that all available vaccines against COVID-19, including CoronaVac, remain “very safe and effective” and they prevent severe infection.
In Western Visayas, Te said, data from two weeks ago showed 173 CoronaVac-vaccinated individuals still got infected “pero very mild ang ila mga symptoms.”
Thus, Te said, “Mas maayo gid nga mabakunahan kita. Wala man sang hambal nga indi na kita ma infect sang COVID. Pero ang aton gina-emphasize, indi ka mag-severe.”
Dr. Ella Mae Divinagracia, infectious disease specialist at St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo (SPHI) agreed with Te.
A vaccinated person “can still get infected but you will get mild (symptoms only) or puede nga asymptomatic ka,” she clarified.
She told Panay News “a study showed nga it will offer 100 percent protection” against severe COVID.
Divinagracia urged Western Visayans to get themselves vaccinated.
“Wala dapat i-worry ang mga pumoluyo sang Western Visayas nga naka-receive sang Sinovac,” said Divinagracia, one of first healthcare workers in Panay Island vaccinated with the Sinovac jab.
‘I’M NOT WORRIED’
Iloilo’s Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said he was aware there were vaccinated individuals who still got infected.
“I’m monitoring. May ara kita sa hospitals nga naka-two doses na, nag-positive. Wala lang ako numero pero ginapa-monitor ko,” he told Panay News.
Still, he said, there was nothing to worry about.
“Ang worry waay na sia added value,” said Defensor.
He urged Ilonggos to continue observing the minimum health protocols, even those who were vaccinated already.
“Ako gina-asumer ko nga wala ako bakuna, so waay sang naglain sa akon ginahimu,” said Defensor who already completed his two vaccine doses.
“It’s (Sinovac) a good vaccine. (But) mas maayo gid biskan pa nabakunahan kita, amo man gihapon ang aton pag-andam,” he said.
Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao, who also received her full Sinovac dose, agreed with Defensor.
“Biskan naka-second dose ka na, may tendency pa rin na mahawa ka. Kaya you should follow the minimum health standards,” she stressed.
Cadiao encouraged Antiqueños to have themselves vaccinated and not be choosy.
“‘Wag na silang pumili ng vaccine. The best vaccine is what’s available. If you want more options, then you have to wait. Just make sure na you take care of yourself muna,” Cadiao said.
On the other hand, Mayor Macario Napulan of Miag-ao, Iloilo said a few of his vaccinated constituents also contracted COVID “pero indi severe.”
“Ang percentage nga ma-infect ang family members tuman kanubo kon i–kumparar sa tawo nga wala nakabaton sang COVID vaccine,” said Napulan, a medical doctor.
STILL ON THE ROLL
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas said the COVID-19 vaccine rollout will continue, regardless of brands.
“We will start getting AstraZeneca and other vaccines in tranches. I hope soon,” Treñas added.
As of June 18 in Iloilo City, 21,870 persons have received their first dose of Sinovac and 1,851 received their second dose.
Bacolod City’s Mayor Evelio Leonardia also played down the concerns on Sinovac. In fact, he said, 15,000 more doses of the vaccine are arriving today, June 22.
“This is good news because this will accelerate the momentum of our vaccination program,” Leonardia said. “To date, we have already done more than 52,000 inoculations and we are encouraged because vaccine acceptance is improving among our people.”
CONFIDENCE-BOOSTER
For Army Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), getting vaccinated with Sinovac – or any other brand – boosts self-confidence.
“It has been two months since I was fully vaccinated with Sinovac,” he told Panay News. “I never had any adverse effects.”
If anything, his level of confidence increased because of his “added protection against COVID-19.”
But Pancito stressed he is fully aware that the virus “is still there”.
“I never let my guard down for the sake of my family and the many people I come in close contact with because of my work,” Pancito said. “As a soldier, I’m trained to never be complacent.”
As of June 20, DOH-6 data showed 325,108 Western Visayans belonging to Priority Group A have been vaccinated – 1 2,659 received Sinovac (first dose) and 132,448 had AstraZeneca (first dose).
A total of 98,216 persons completed their second dose – 89,475 with Sinovac and 8,741 with AstraZeneca.
Region 6 received a total of 384,040 doses of Sinovac, 137, 200 of AstraZeneca and 14,040 of Pfizer as of June 20./PN
