The Department of Health (DOH) lifted the age-restrictions on the use of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) vaccine developed by United Kingdom based company AstraZeneca.
The department allowed the use of the vaccine to all eligible population following the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration, and the DOH All Experts Group on Vaccines.
DOH suspended the use of the vaccine on people younger than 60 years old on April following reports of very rare cases of blood clots, or Vaccine-Induced Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia (VITT), in other countries.
In a statement on Friday, May 7, the DOH concluded that there are currently no known risk factors for VITT following discussions with health experts and the Philippine College of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (PCHTM).
DOH also stressed that the benefits of receiving the vaccine still outweighs the risk.
While the National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee has not confirmed any cases of VITT in the Philippines, DOH said that specific guidelines and measures will still be enforced so that the risks can be mitigated.
DOH said that the PCHTM released updated guidelines on the management of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) particularly for VIT.
"Based on the guidelines, all vaccination sites should have a strengthened post-vaccination surveillance to spot possible AEFI," DOH said in the statement.
"Further, all healthcare workers (HCWs) in vaccination sites will be trained to detect and manage possible symptoms of VITT and refer them accordingly to the appropriate health facility for definitive work-up and management," the agency added.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. announced on Wednesday, May 5, that the Philippines will receive up to 2 million doses of COVID-19 developed by AstraZeneca within the month.
Galvez said that the vials will come from the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility, an initiative by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and GAVI.
