DOH and FDA say HCW’S death due to Covid, not vax
THE Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration confirmed on Friday that coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was the cause of death of a health-care worker (HCW) recently inoculated against the disease.
Upon receiving the report on March 15, the DOH said the regional and national Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) committees were immediately activated to conduct a thorough investigation into the case.
“Upon completion of the investigation following the 2019 World Health Organization AEFI causality assessment methodology, the NAEFIC and R AEFIC concluded that the cause of the death was caused by Covid-19 itself, not by the Covid-19 vaccine,” DOH clarified.
The DOH also said that Covid-19 vaccines “cannot” cause somebody to be positive of the virus.
“The DOH and Food and Drug Administration [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,” a joint news statement read.
Both DOH and FDA also encouraged all HCWS to get vaccinated amid an ongoing surge in Covid-19 cases.
“Millions of people around the world have received this vaccine and evidence continues to show that the benefit of vaccination outweighs the risk of severe disease and death caused by Covid-19,” DOH added. The DOH refused to reveal the vaccine that was injected to the HCW.
Ivermectin
THE FDA, meanwhile, warned the public against the purchase and use of Ivermectin veterinary products purportedly to cure virus symptoms.
The FDA stressed that the registered Ivermectin veterinary products are “only” approved for the “prevention of heartworm disease and treatment of internal and external parasites in certain animal species.”
“Ivermectin is NOT APPROVED by the FDA for treatment of any viral infection,” the FDA Advisory 2021-0526 issued on March 15, 2021, read.
“The public is warned against taking animal drugs as the FDA has only evaluated their safety and efficacy in the particular species for which they are labeled. Using these products in humans can cause serious harm. Animal drugs are often highly concentrated and can be highly toxic to humans,” FDA said.
It added, “The drug is an important part of the parasitic control program for some animal species and should only be administered according to its approved indication, or as prescribed by a duly licensed veterinarian.”