Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 4) — Individuals who contracted COVID-19 after receiving their first vaccine dose may still receive their second jab, a health expert said Friday.
“As long as naka-recover na po at tapos na po ‘yung isolation — whether it’s 10 days for mild (cases) or 21 days for severe (cases) — and mukhang okay na naman, naka-recover na, ‘di naman po problemang ibigay na ‘yung second dose,” infectious disease specialist and Health Department technical advisory group member Dr. Edsel Salvaña said in a televised briefing.
[Translation: As long as the person already recovered and their isolation is over — whether it’s 10 days for mild cases or 21 days for severe cases — and they’re doing okay, there won’t be any problem administering their second dose already].
In a separate briefing, Health Spokesperson and Undersercretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire noted that catching the coronavirus during the surge in cases in the National Capital Region Plus was among the reasons why some missed their second vaccine shot as scheduled.
“During that time may kababayan tayong na-expose, nagkasakit [we had fellow citizens who got exposed and got sick] so on their second scheduled time, na-defer sila [they got their vaccination deferred] because of illness or because of being exposed,” explained the Health official.
Salvaña also assured Filipinos who missed the schedule for their second COVID-19 shot need not start their inoculation from scratch, echoing fellow health experts’ call for vaccinees to get their second dose since protection from the highly contagious disease may only be achieved by completing vaccination.
“Bagama’t mas maganda pa rin na on time para mas mabilis po natin makuha ‘yung full protection,” he reminded.
[Translation: Although it’s still better to get (your second COVID-19 shot) on time so that you will achieve full protection faster.]
Over 1.29 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of June 1.
The government’s “overall goal” is to inoculate 70% of the national populace against the disease.
