Filipino woman in US develops blood condition after getting COVID-19 vaccine

A 72-year-old Filipina has developed a severe case of immune thrombocytopenia or the shortage of platelets in the body a day after she received the COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna, the New York Times has reported.

According to JP Soriano’s report on “State of the Nation,” the newspaper article said Luz Legaspi “woke up with bruises on her arms and legs, and blisters that bled inside her mouth.”

Experts, however, said it had yet to be proven that it was the vaccine that caused the disorder.

GMA News has reached out to Legaspi for comment.

Moderna has yet to issue a statement regarding the patient. However, it said it “continuously monitors” the safety of its vaccine.

The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration have yet to release a statement on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination said thrombocytopenia may be a side effect after one vaccination or medication.

However, further study is needed to prove this.

“There has to be an investigation. To find out that whether that condition is happening with higher frequency in the vaccinated compared to the unvaccinated population,” executive director Dr. Lulu Bravo said. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News