No links found between vaccination and deaths, experts say

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) – There is still no alarming side effects directly related to the use of COVID-19 vaccines monitored in the Philippines, the head of the group reviewing post-immunization events reported on Wednesday.

Most of the reports point to the usual side effects after vaccination, such as pain in the injection site, blood pressure increase, headache and dizziness, according to Dr. Lulu Bravo, head of the National Adverse Events Following Immunization Committee (NAEFIC) .

The latest Food and Drug Administration report on May 16 showed that out of 2,282,273 vaccinees, 32,754 reported adverse reactions after receiving a shot.

Of this, 32,299 or 1.4% of all vaccinees had non-serious reactions to the doses, while there were a total of 455 serious events reported. This includes 226 adverse reactions to Sinovac vaccine, 228 to Astrazeneca and one to Spunik V.

Majority or 80.62% of these adverse effects have been resolved, according to FDA.

A side effect is considered serious when it resulted in hospitalization, significant disability, caused birth defect or death, or is life threatening.

“Hanggang sa ngayon po, wala pa kami nakikitang masamang epekto ng bakuna,” Bravo said.

[Translation: Until now, we have not found any adverse effects of vaccines.]

No deaths due to vaccine

As of May 9, the FDA said 91 individuals who got vaccinated died.

However, based on the FDA and NAEFIC’s investigation, the vaccine had nothing to do with their deaths.

The FDA report said: “An independent committee assessed 37 of these events as coincidental events or not related to the vaccine, three (3) cases were indeterminate, and two (2) were unclassifiable. Other cases are still under investigation and are continuously being reviewed.”

“To date, there were no reports of fatal events directly associated with the use of the vaccines currently in use,” it said.

Bravo is among those who investigated the reported deaths. She said the FDA and NAEFIC thoroughly examined each case, and even had to perform autopsies in some of the cases. So far, none of the deaths can be attributed to their use of vaccines.

She explained that most of those who died had existing illnesses or conditions such as cardiovascular diseases or other respiratory illnesses.

“Wala pa kaming nakikitang malinaw na ebidensya na yan ay maire-relate natin sa bakuna,” said Bravo.

[Translation: We have not yet found a clear evidence that it can be linked to the vaccine.]

“Marami namatay dahil may COVID,” she continued. “Pangalawa, marami namatay na may heart attack, dalawa — sudden, na-autopsy, nakita ang ebidensya na may heart attack, at meron pa po na tinatawag na stroke, may asthma na severe napabayaan po. Hindi nadala sa ospital. Hindi naman po yun dahil sa COVID vaccine.”

[Translation: Many have died because of COVID. Second, many have died of a heart attack. There were two instances, one, sudden attack, and after autopsy there was an evidence of heart attack. There were also some who had stroke, severe asthma. Some were not rushed to the hospital. It’s not because of the COVID vaccine.]

Sixteen vaccinees also succumbed to severe COVID-19 infection. In total, the FDA said 292 vaccinees had COVID-19 after getting at least one dose. But most of them are asymptomatic.

Experts maintain that a person may still contract infection after getting vaccinated, especially when they have not yet completed the required doses. The vaccines need time to build up a person’s immune system against the virus, they said.