COVID-19 survivors can receive jab soon after recovering – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Survivors of COVID-19 can be vaccinated immediately after recovering from the illness amid the continuing increase of cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

At a press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire noted the previous protocol was for COVID-19 survivors to wait 90 days before receiving their vaccines.

This apparently was because those who got infected but recovered from the virus develop antibodies that last for three to six months.

But citing the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control in Atlanta, Vergeire underscored there is “no problem” when the vaccine can be given to survivors.

“There was no timeframe given when the vaccine should be administered. But because of surge, we thought it best that ‘let’s remove 90 days’ and have everyone eligible to be vaccinated at once. Immediately after recovery, you can receive the vaccine,” she added.

Meanwhile, Vergeire said 30 vials of Sinovac vaccines will likely go to waste after they were exposed to a fire that hit the provincial health office in Misamis Oriental where they were stored.

She added the vaccines may no longer be used because the temperature emitted by the fire was “high” and this is not good for the vaccines.

“Most probably these will be considered wastage already… We don’t want to take the risk by using the vaccines because the temperature could have changed. Not unless the storage is really far from the fire. Investigation is ongoing,” she said.

The single-dose 30 vials are good for 30 recipients.

“This is an accident and nobody wants this to happen. That’s why we have a wastage provision buffer,” she added.