PREGNANT women will soon be included in the priority list of the national vaccination program against COVID-19, the Department of Health said yesterday.
They will be listed under an expanded A3 priority group which refers to persons with comorbidities.
In a statement, the DOH said the inclusion of pregnant women was recommended by vaccine experts who said COVID-19 vaccines are generally safe for pregnant women.
“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is actively recommended during the second or third trimester,” said the DOH.
As for those with sensitive pregnancy, the health department said they will require medical clearance from their attending physician.
“High-risk pregnant women in their first trimester may also be vaccinated provided that benefit and risks have been fully explained, and upon securing medical clearance from their doctor,” the DOH said.
It also said that all but one COVID-19 vaccine brand has been declared as safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
“The only vaccine that should not be given to pregnant women is with Gamaleya’s Sputnik V,” it said.
Earlier, the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Meanwhile, members of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) said the number of children and teens with COVID-19 might be higher than what is being reported.
“The statistics that are being mentioned are all hospitalized statistics. We are not getting the real picture as to the milder versions of COVID-19,” said Dr Maria Carmela Kasala ,PPS Public Relations Committee chair, in a virtual press briefing.
“Right now, I feel that what we are getting is an under-reporting of COVID-19 (among children),” she added.
DOH Data shows 176,540 COVID-19 cases, including 466 deaths, among minors less than a year old up to 19 years. Recently, reports said pediatric cases are increasing but the DOH said cases are increasing among all age groups.
PIDSP said it would be better if the local government units (LGUs) will also include children and teens in their testing efforts.
The group also called on fellow pediatricians to make use of the SALVACION (Surveillance and Analysis of COVID-19 in Children Nationwide), which aims to collect retrospective and prospective data on the epidemiologic profile, clinical and laboratory features, treatment, and outcome of COVID-19 among children.
The controversial mega-vaccination site at the Nayong Pilipino, which includes 30 drive-thru booths and could serve up to 15,000 persons a day, was formally opened yesterday.
The Solaire-International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) Mega Vaccination Center, which is a public-private initiative, also has eight ambulatory vaccination centers and will be using Moderna vaccines during its initial roll out.
ICTSI executive vice president Christian Gonzalez said an initial 50,000 doses of vaccines will be provided by the national government while the Parañaque City local government is handling the online registration for vaccinees.
Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez said the vaccine facility would be open to everyone regardless if they are from his city or not, provided that they pre-register through the Parañaque City website.
Olivarez said those who register will get a text confirmation of their schedule which they will present to gain access to the facility. The vaccinee could also choose if they would have the vaccine through the drive thru system and in the convenience of their vehicles or through the ambulatory site.
National Task Force against COVID-19 deputy implementer and testing Czar Vince Dizon assured the public that no tree was cut during the construction of the mega-facility which was designed in a way that it would spare some century old trees in the area. A member of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation had opposed the construction of the facility due to environmental concerns.
The country expects more than 22 million doses of vaccines to be delivered this month.
To date, the country has received 39,515,350 doses from different vaccine manufacturers. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
