DOH warns vs. taking 4 or more COVID-19 vaccine doses

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday warned the public against taking four or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine saying it could be dangerous for their health as it is yet to be approved by health experts.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed that while COVID-19 jabs are proven safe and effective, people still need to be wary in receiving doses more than what was approved by experts.

She said they have received reports that several individuals have taken four, five, and even six doses of the anti-COVID vaccine.

“What I can say is it would be dangerous. We have to understand that these vaccines are only in their Phase 3 trials so although it has been approved already, has been studied that it is safe and effective, but we need to monitor for long-term effects of these vaccines,” Vergeire said in an ANC interview.

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.

“We have to be cautious because we still don’t know a lot about these vaccines. We just want to stay within the protocols and the approved guidelines that our experts have given. With these approved guidelines, we are assured that it is going to be safe for us, it is going to be effective for us,” Vergeire added.

Asked about the side effects reported among those who have taken vaccine doses beyond the required number, she said, “We closely monitor these reports and we closely monitor these individuals. Up until now, we do not have reports of any adverse events following this number of shots that they have received.”

Vergeire then explained that the Health department will also closely monitor the entire population for two to five years after the inoculation.

DOH reported on Monday that more than 65.6 million individuals or 72.93% of the government’s target population are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, 11.8 million have received their booster shots after reaching the three to six-month requirement.—AOL, GMA News