PHA urges persons with heart condition to take booster shots vs. COVID-19

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) on Wednesday called on all persons diagnosed with cardiovascular disease to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, on top of the primary vaccine series.

PHA president Dr. Gilbert Vilela showed data that the top cause of mortality in the Philippines in January to October 2021 was ischemic heart disease, followed by cerebrovascular disease which includes stroke.

The third on the list is COVID-19.

He said that those with heart conditions were more likely to show symptoms.

“Pwede ka namang mild lang [you could have mild symptoms], pero if you have a severe mild condition, you usually get the more severe response to the COVID-19 infection,” Vilela said at a DOH forum.

He said the same went for those who have diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.

Vilela having both heart disease and COVID-19 was a “perfect storm”

“Ang heart disease at saka COVID-19 ‘pag pinagsama, it’s a perfect storm. Kaya po ang sinasabi namin sa aming pasyente sa Heart Center, magtago muna please para maligtas ang buhay at para hindi rin ma-exhaust ang healthcare workers at the healthcare system,” Vilela said.

[Heart disease and COVID-19 when combined are a perfect storm. That's why we tell our patients at the Heart Center to hide so they could save their lives and not exhaust the healthcare workers and the healthcare system.]

Vilela said all COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots, regardless of the brand, were safe and effective even for those who have cardiovascular disease.

He also encouraged those who have heart disease not to deny themselves of freedom from the COVID-19 by getting the primary vaccine series and booster shot.

“Merong rare cases of thromboembolism or myocarditis at dapat tinatanggap po natin talaga ‘yan, but we also confront the fact that there is overwhelming survival benefits ‘pag ikaw ay na-vaccinate. Yes, merong side effects, pero kaunti lang ‘yan. Rare,” Vilela said.

[There are rare cases of thromboembolism or myocarditis and we should really accept that, but we also need to confront the fact that there are overwhelming survival benefits when you are vaccinated. Yes, there are side effects, but those are few and rare.]

“Just like peace and war, health is a choice. Yes, may COVID. Yes, may giyera sa Ukraine, pero [yes, there is COVID-19 and Ukraine war but] you have to choose what is good for you. Vaccines and booster doses have been shown to be very good for us,” he added.

Currently, the Philippine government is administering third doses to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals, while booster shots are given to those who completed the primary doses–single for Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, double for the other bands.

Malacañang said Tuesday that over 63 million Filipinos had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, exactly a year since the Philippine government started its vaccine rollout.

At least 10 million individuals have also received their booster shots. —NB, GMA News