DOH: COVID-19 VACCINES CANNOT CAUSE COVID-19

THE Department of Health (DoH) continues to intensify its communication strategies to provide accurate and timely information about the Covid-1 9 pandemic. Hence, the DoH regularly monitors publications to assure Filipinos are given accurate information about the Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

In monitoring publications, the DoH has come across, and would like to call your attention to, two articles published by your outfit, namely an April 1 0 column entitled “Shocking report on Sinovac vaccinations: Increased Covid cases after using vaccine,” written by Mr. Yen Makabenta, and your April 2 editorial entitled “DoH should report on the Sinovac vaccinations” as referenced by Mr. Makabenta. Both cited articles tackle concerns regarding the CoronaVac vaccine and its administration under the National Vaccine Deployment Program. Hence, in the spirit of upholding truth, transparency and scientific integrity, we would like to respond to several points raised in the above-mentioned articles.

Firstly, the DoH would like to point out that Mr. Makabenta, by mere mention of the article by Epoch Times, has recklessly echoed the disinformation campaign purporting that vaccines are ineffective against Covid-19 and are causing increased cases of it — such reckless actions serve not to increase awareness of the public, but only to jeopardize the efforts of the government in increasing the country’s already delicate vaccine confidence.

Moreover, as responded to by the DoH during our joint presser with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last April 9, there is no scientific basis that vaccines are causing the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases anywhere. As has been explained multiple times not only by DoH and FDA but by our experts — and as your outfit itself emphasized in your April 10 editorial,“Better education needed on vaccines’’ — Covid-19 vaccines cannot cause Covid-19 as it uses an inactivated virus platform.

Secondly, with regard to the concerns raised on the government’s supposed lack of information and data on the national vaccination program, we refer you to 1) the Vaccines Bulletin regularly released by the department every Wednesday and reported by vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez at the Laging Handa public briefing; 2) the regularly scheduled media fora on Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) scheduled monthly, with the second forum scheduled this week; and 3) the numerous platforms and the regular media engagement activities of the Department of Health where pertinent data and information on vaccination, as well as on Covid-19, are sufficiently provided, and where concerns are raised and subsequently addressed and clarified. Additionally, relevant information, communication materials and policies on Covid-19 vaccination and Covid-19 for different audiences are available for everyone to access through the following links:

1 . Vaccine Champion Kit for LVOCs/LGUs/other local partners or groups: bit.lv/COViDVaccinesPHChampionsKit

2. Vaccine educational materials: bit.ly/RESBAKUNAMaterials 3. Policy issuances on vaccination: bit.ly/COVJDVaccinePolicies 4. Verify correct information through: doh.gov.ph/vaccines and covid19. gov.ph/vaccine

5. Report fake news through KIRA Chatbot: m.me/OfficialDOHgov.

Lastly, neither the DoH nor the national government is in favor of any vaccine manufacturer. Given the apparent scarcity of vaccine supplies, the government is exhausting all its efforts to secure as many doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for all Filipinos, regardless of the manufacturer or origin country.

With these, the Department of Health requests that your outfit retract the column of Mr. Makabenta and issue a clarification as aligned with the responses provided above. Furthermore, the DoH reiterates its call for our partners in the media to be more responsible for the information we provide to the public. As primary sources of information, we have the responsibility to ensure that our countrymen are equipped with factual and accurate information which they can use to protect themselves and contribute to our country’s efforts to quickly and collectively hurdle this health crisis.

We will keep our communication lines open should you wish to hold a dialogue to discuss the government’s Covid-19 pandemic response.

Dr. Maria Rosario S. Vergeire, MPH, CESO 4 Undersecretary of Health, Public Health Services Team DoH Spokesperson