(As of January 25, 2021. More FAQs to follow with new developments)
Why should I get vaccinated against the SARS CoV2 (the COVID-19 virus)?
Answer: In a pandemic situation, the vaccines which have been shown to be efficacious and safe through Phase III clinical trials can help bring the pandemic under control. Together with the basic prevention strategies of wearing face mask, physical distancing of 1 meter, and frequent hand hygiene; vaccines will reduce your risk for getting COVID-19. Vaccines will not only protect you but may also indirectly protect your family and others around you.
Are the COVID-19 vaccines which will be used in our country safe?
Answer: Like all nations, our country has a regulatory body, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that oversees vaccine safety and efficacy before vaccines are used widely. There is also a global oversight provided by the WHO through its coordination of independent technical bodies that rigorously review the safety and efficacy of vaccines prior to and after they have been introduced. Thus, even if the present COVID-19 vaccine development has been much faster than traditionally experienced in the past, they can only receive the required regulatory approvals for use in our country if they meet stringent safety and efficacy standards.
Will the COVID-19 vaccines guarantee to protect me from getting COVID-19?
Answer: Persons receiving the vaccines must understand that the no vaccine can guarantee absolutely 100% efficacy. What vaccines would be able to do is to reduce the risk of developing COVID-19 disease. The FDA determines the vaccine efficacy of each vaccine and assures us that the number of COVID-19 disease prevented among those who received the vaccine versus those who did not receive the vaccine will significantly be beneficial for the people who will receive the vaccine.
What does it mean when a COVID-19 vaccine is issued an EUA? Which COVID-19 vaccines have been granted an EUA in the Philippines?
Answer: EUA is Emergency Use Authorization which means a COVID-19 vaccine is already made available even before a full application is approved by the FDA because of the pandemic and the potential benefits of providing the product outweighs the potential risks. This was made possible through the Executive Order 121 s. 2020 (December 1, 2020): granting the Philippine FDA Director General the authority to issue EUA for COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA Circular 2020-036: Guidelines on the Issuance of EUA for Drugs and Vaccines for COVID-19 provides the specific requirements for EUA application. The EUA is valid only within the duration of the declared public health emergency due to COVID-19. It is not a marketing authorization or Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) hence vaccine cannot be sold commercially. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 has received the EUA from the Philippine FDA last January 14, 2021.
Do I still have to wear mask and face shield and observe physical distancing after I receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: Yes, we should continue to observe the same preventive precautions.
If I will need to continue wearing masks and be required to observe all the usual health measures, why undergo vaccination at all?
Answer: The combination of the COVID-19 vaccine with the continued practice of preventive strategies will help further reduce risks for developing the COVID-19 for the vaccinated individuals. If there would be enough persons in the population who will get vaccinated, it is possible to reach the threshold to establish a herd immunity or reducing the number of susceptible individuals enough to provide protection even for those who were not vaccinated yet (like children). The WHO explains that we do not know yet exactly how many needs to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity for COVID-19 as this depends on many factors. But the greater the number of persons vaccinated, the more likely we will reach herd immunity in our country.
How can I protect myself and my family until we receive a COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: Despite efforts of the national government there is a global limitation in the number of vaccines being manufactured; therefore, these will not be available at once to all citizens of our country. While waiting for the vaccines, continue to follow the basic preventive measures. There are easy ways to remember these such as:
Will getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 be required?
Answer: No. There is no law or administrative order which requires this; but vaccination is highly recommended particularly for individuals who fall under the priority groups by the PSMID, the DOH, the IATF, the WHO, and all expert health groups. In the future it is possible that it may be a requirement for travel or some types of workplaces or communities for the greater good or public health reasons.
How can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Answer: The government is already in the process of mobilizing health institutions and local governments for the vaccine deployment. Keep updated through your residence or workplace. Stay informed and sign up accordingly.
MORE FAQs ON SPECIFIC VACCINE ISSUES:
I heard there is a National COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap. Who are in the priority groups in the national vaccination plan?
Answer: The priority groups in the national vaccination plan are frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent population, and uniformed personnel.
Why is it important for health care workers to be vaccinated?
Answer: In countries with ongoing high levels of community transmission like the Philippines, it is very important to prioritize healthcare workers (HCWs) in the COVID-19 vaccination program. Three overarching reasons are listed by the WHO-SAGE framework.
Who among the hospital staff will be prioritized?
Answer: The entire staff members of hospitals will be prioritized. This includes doctors, nurses, paramedical, support, and administrative staff of the health facilities.
I already got infected with COVID-19 last September and fortunately recovered. Do I still need to get vaccinated?
Answer: Yes. The possibility of reinfection is present and justifies the recommendation to vaccinate. The vaccine trials have included a few patients with serologic evidence of previous infection and vaccination was completed safely in these individuals.
If you are currently ill and confirmed to have COVID-19, you should wait until such time you have recovered from the acute illness and you have fulfilled the entire recommended period of isolation criteria prior to discontinuing isolation.
Is it safe for me to get vaccinated if I have other illnesses? I drink medicines for diabetes and hypertension.
Answer: Patients with comorbidities are considered vulnerable for more severe disease or death if they get the COVID-19 and thus among those recommended to have the COVID-19 vaccine. The benefit should be weighed against the risks. You belong under the priority groups after the current priority groups identified by the national vaccination program in both the WHO-Sage recommendations and the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; and the Philippine government assures us that these vulnerable groups will likewise be addressed soon.
Regina Berba
Published in UP Manila Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 23
