DOH-7 Regional Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas after delivering his message to local chief executives of Negros Oriental on the government’s vaccination plan. (Ryan Sorote)
Filipinos eager to be vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) are required to sign a consent form for possible adverse vaccine-related side effects.
Dr. Jaime Bernadas, Department of Health Region 7 (DOH) Director, said the consent form is different from a waiver as most people would believe. “Waiver is more on the relinquishing. This is voluntary acceptance of the vaccine,” Bernadas clarified.
He said the government’s Covid-19 vaccine is “safe,” but it has possible “adverse effects” on some individuals.
“Whatever medication or vaccine it would be, there would always be possible adverse reactions, he explained.
Under the DOH’s “selective screening,” individuals are assessed if they are at risk of possible side effects from the immunization.
Bernadas said those categorized as “high-risk” individuals or those who have allergies and systemic autoimmune conditions, will not be included in the first batch of immunization.
“We can’t sometimes anticipate the adverse effects (of the vaccine), but the government will take care of the patient,” assured the director.
He said the government’s selection process would identify those prioritized to receive the vaccine.
There would also be vaccination centers established throughout the country to effectively implement and monitor the immunization progress, especially possible adverse reactions.
DOH has instructed Dr. Liland Estacion, Incident Commander of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force to produce their priority list included in the first batch of vaccination.
“Frontlines and health workers, who are doing the job of monitoring and taking care of Covid cases, suspects, and probable (cases), are prioritized to get the vaccine,” Estacion said. –Ryan Sorote