THE healthcare worker (HCW) who was reported to have died after getting vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may have contracted the coronavirus before inoculation, a member of the National Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Committee said Thursday, March 18, 2021.
Dr. Rommel Lobo, who is also the president of the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (PSAAI), said the HCW’s death was not caused by the vaccine.
“Totoo po, nabakunahan s’ya, pero wala po ‘yong kinalaman sa kanyang pagkakasawi o paglala ng kanyang condition,” Lobo said during the virtual press briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Thursday.
He declined to say whether the vaccine came too late for the HCW.
“Baka po kasi at that time, na wala s’yang sintomas, nag-i-incubate na rin po s’ya dahil s’yempre po, health worker po, na-e-expose po sya sa hospital,” Lobo added.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) said both the national and regional AEFI committees had concluded that the HCW’s death was “caused by Covid-19 itself, not by the Covid19 vaccine.”
“Covid-19 vaccines cannot cause Covid-19,” DOH stressed.
The statement did not specify the location of the HCW nor the vaccine that was administered.
Health authorities are currently administering Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines, the only vaccines that have arrived in the country so far.
During the press briefing Thursday, Lobo said it will usually take three weeks after vaccination before a person develops immunity against the disease. This is, however, not enough, hence the need for a second dose, Lobo added.
He said the HCW was administered the vaccine despite having comorbidities, namely, diabetes, hypertension and asthma.
Lobo said the HCW was cleared for vaccination because these diseases were under control and there were no indications that would warrant deferment of the inoculation.
A day after inoculation, the HCW developed a non-productive cough, fever and rashes. Upon consultation at a hospital’s emergency room, the HCW was advised for admission. However, the HCW allegedly refused and went on home quarantine.
After three days, the HCW was back in the hospital with worse symptoms, and was admitted, swabbed and confirmed to be a Covid-19 case.
Lobo said the disease progressed rapidly, resulting in the HCW’s death.
In its statement, the DOH together with the Food and Drug Administration stressed the need to observe the minimum public health standards, even after vaccination.
“The DOH and FDA emphasize that vaccines are only one part of the solution in bringing the COVID-19 pandemic to an end. Even with vaccines, people must continue with the important prevention measures already in place: wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, washing hands frequently, and avoiding crowded places and settings,” the two agencies stated.
Both also encouraged all health workers to get vaccinated and emphasized that the benefits provided by vaccination outweigh the risks of severe disease and death. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)