Concepcion: Astrazeneca jab for all age groups

THE Department of Health’s (DoH) announcement of the official resumption of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for all age groups is a big boost toward efforts to vaccinate economic frontliners. This according to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion. “It’s certainly a huge step forward, especially when it comes to combating vaccine hesitancy,” he said.

The DoH’s announcement came following the recommendation of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the DoH All Experts Group on Vaccines. The DoH concluded that there are currently no known risk factors for Vaccine-Induced Thrombosis and Thrombocytopenia (VITT), a very rare condition of blood clots associated with low platelet counts. To date, there have been no local confirmed VITT events.

“This is a big boost,” said Concepcion, “especially following the endorsement of the DoLE,” he said.

The DoLE (Department of Labor and Employment) earlier released an advisory promoting the vaccination of private sector employees, a move which Concepcion said was significant given calls from the business sector to open the economy and regain losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision is seen to positively impact the public-private partnership efforts to secure 17 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines. Under the “A Dose of Hope” program pioneered by Concepcion’s GoNegosyo, the private sector, vaccine manufacturers and the government were able to agree to expedite the vaccine procurement process and make it possible for the private sector to secure vaccines for private sector employees and economic frontliners.

Concepcion said that the decision comes just in time as the two million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to arrive in the country this month.