MANILA, Philippines — Amid reports of 23 deaths associated with COVID-19 vaccinations in Norway, the Philippines is assuring Filipinos that a similar incident will not happen in the country when it rolls out its national vaccination program.
Carlito Galvez Jr., COVID-19 policy chief implementer, said the government would be more cautious in choosing vaccines to be administered to the elderly as he noted the report of the Norwegian Medicines agency that said 23 Norwegian senior citizens died a few days after receiving their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“The large studies on Comirnaty… did not include patients with unstable or acute illness and included few participants over 85 years of age,” the report read.
The Norwegian state drug regulator said 13 of these deaths were apparently related to the side effects that may have contributed to severe reactions in frail, elderly people.
Upon hearing the reports, Galvez said he called the Department of Health to insist on the National Task Force Against COVID-19’s original plan to first have people aged 18 to 59 get inoculated first.
“Our goal is zero casualty and as much as possible, our task group and vaccine experts are watching these (developments) closely so they can really assist… and we can examine the history of the COVID-19 vaccines,” Galvez said in an interview yesterday aired over dzBB.
“I think the original plan of limiting the age group to 18 to 59 is better, and we will look for vaccines that would suit the older populace better,” he added.
Galvez said the initial report of the Norwegian government points to risks for people aged 80 and above and said the government was now looking at the risk and benefits for those who would receive vaccines, especially those who have health complications.
The government aims to vaccinate 50 to 70 million Filipinos against COVID-19 this year as they look to close deals this month for a supply of vaccines from several drug makers that include Novavax, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac and Gamaleya.
About 50,000 Filipinos are expected to receive jabs in February.
The NTF earlier said Pfizer’s vaccine could be the first administered in the country under the Covax Facility’s early rollout. The American corporation earned its emergency use authorization last week from the Food and Drug Administration.