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See all the wonderful things Godwin Jil Cabotaje has made

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See all the wonderful things Emmy Ruth Mejares has made

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See all the wonderful things Lorrhaine Mae Baintin has made

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#COVID19 vaccines and therapeutics LIVE Q&A with Dr Soumya Swaminathan - #AskWHO of 24 July 2020

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Visit Vaccines Page for More Information>>>

1. How do vaccines prevent disease?
Vaccines mimic the virus or bacteria that causes disease and triggers the body's creation of antibodies. These antibodies will provide protection once a person is infected with the actual disease-causing virus or bacteria.

2. How do vaccines differ?
Vaccines differ in their composition and how they trigger the immune response to create antibodies. These antibodies protect the body from microorganisms and serve as protection once a person gets infected with disease. Vaccines can be inactivated, weakened or killed copies of the whole or part of the virus or bacteria, or genetic product (like mRNA vaccines) that creates protein copies without causing disease.

3. What are the possible side effects of vaccination?
The possible side effects of a vaccine include pain, redness, itchiness or swelling at the injection site (which may last a few hours); fever; feeling of weakness or fatigue; headache; dizziness; diarrhea; or nausea. Consult the nearest healthcare professional if you experience any of these.

4. Is vaccination mandatory?
No, vaccination is not mandatory. But the government highly encourages the public to get vaccinated and be protected against preventable disease.

5. Why do we need to get vaccinated for COVID-19?
With the BIDA steps and observance of minimum public health standards, vaccination is an important way to protect yourself from getting severe COVID-19.

6. When will the COVID-19 vaccine be available?
The government is currently in the advanced stages of negotiations with various vaccine manufacturers. We expect the first vaccine supply to arrive in the first quarter of 2021.

7. What is an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?
It is an authorization granted through a risk-based procedure for assessing unregistered (under development) vaccines or drugs during public health emergencies of international concern. It aims to expedite availability of the vaccine or drug to people affected by public health emergency based on essential set of available quality, safety and efficacy performance data.

8. Who will get the vaccines first?
Frontline health workers, senior citizens, indigent population, and uniformed personnel are the priority groups to be vaccinated.

9. Why will the prioritized groups get the vaccine first?
With the initial limited supply, frontline health workers and uniformed personnel are prioritized since they have higher risk of exposure while on duty and to allow them to continue fulfilling their duties in both the public and private sectors. Vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the indigent population, are prioritized guided by the principle of equity.

10. Can I purchase the vaccine from private clinics or pharmacies?
No, you cannot purchase COVID-19 vaccines from private clinics or pharmacies. At present, only the government is duly authorized to procure and administer vaccines. Until a full market authorization is issued by the Philippine FDA, any COVID-19 vaccine should not be sold to the public.

11. Is the vaccine free for priority groups?
The cost of vaccines for priority groups will be shouldered by the Philippine government.

12. If I am not part of the priority group, how will I get access to the vaccine?
The government is continuing negotiations to ensure adequate vaccine supply for all Filipinos, including those not in the priority groups.

13. Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe and effective?
COVID-19 vaccines that are granted with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are considered safe and effective based on the available evidence to date.

14. Are there risks for complications when given the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, like all other vaccines, there are risks of complications BUT SEVERE OR LIFE-THREATENING REACTIONS ARE EXTREMELY RARE. The benefit of protection against severe COVID-19 is greater than the risk. Anyone who will get the vaccine will be properly evaluated and closely monitored by health professionals to further minimize any risk.

15. What can we do while waiting for the vaccine?
We urge the public to be more vigilant with the information found online. Let us make it a habit to fact check and verify with reliable sources (DOH Facebook page, DOH website, WHO website, PIA website) regarding new information. Continue observing the minimum public health standards to prevent further transmission of the virus.

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FAQs: Vaccines | Department of Health website

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Visit Vaccines Page for More Information>>> 1. How do vaccines prevent disease? Vaccines mimic the virus or bacteria that causes disease and triggers the body's creation of antibodies. These antibodies will provide protection once a person is infected with the actual disease-causing virus or bacteria. 2. How do vaccines differ?

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We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy.

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COVID-19 vaccine myths, debunked! | Need to Know

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Recognizing that combating misinformation is a critical step to end the pandemic, we call for increased and strengthened partnerships between the different sectors of society to combat the myths surrounding vaccines

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Recognizing that combating misinformation is a critical step to end the pandemic, we call for increased and strengthened partnerships between the different sectors of society to combat the myths surrounding vaccines

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EDU GCF Global. (n.d.). What is an echo chamber? EDU GCF Global. https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/digital-media-literacy/what-is-an-echo-chamber/1/

Kleinman, Z. (2018, March 9). Fake news 'travels faster', study finds. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43344256

Llemit, R. L. (2021, July 8). City monitors pastor’s account for spreading false Covid-19 info. SunStar Davao. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1900150/Davao/Local-News/City-monitors-pastors-account-for-spreading-false-Covid-19-info

Md Saiful Islam, A.-H. M. (2021, May 12). COVID-19 vaccine rumors and conspiracy theories: The need for cognitive inoculation against misinformation to improve vaccine adherence. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251605

Rivas, R. (2021, March 15). IN CHARTS: Philippine economy, a year in lockdown. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/business/charts-philippine-economy-year-in-covid-19-lockdown-2021

SDG Tracker. (n.d.). Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. SDG Tracker. https://sdg-tracker.org/global-partnerships

Trozo, P. M. (2021, March 3). Davao dad calls for vaccine education to allay concerns. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132425

UN SDG. (n.d.). Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. UN SDG. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal17

FAQS: VACCINES. (n.d.). Department of Health. https://doh.gov.ph/faqs/vaccines

Myth vs. Fact: COVID-19 Vaccines. (2021, February 2). Memorial Hospital of Converse Country. https://www.conversehospital.com/blog/posts/myth-vs-fact-covid-19-vaccines/

HealthGuard. Encylopedia Britannica.(2021, August 10). The Top COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Spreading Online. https://www.britannica.com/list/the-top-covid-19-vaccine-myths-spreading-online

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Change starts in the willingness to act: get vaccinated!

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Change starts in the willingness to act: get vaccinated!

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We emphasize the need for compassion among individuals for vaccines are not only for our own protection, but also for the protection of others around us. 

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We emphasize the need for compassion among individuals for vaccines are not only for our own protection, but also for the protection of others around us. 

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We firmly believe that the dissemination of erroneous misinformation against these vaccines should be stopped.

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We firmly believe that the dissemination of erroneous misinformation against these vaccines should be stopped.

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Standing firm: A Quest to Combat Vaccine Misinformation

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Standing firm: A Quest to Combat Vaccine Misinformation

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This pandemic caught everyone off guard. After a long wait, we learned that scientists have discovered a solution to protect civilians and themselves from COVID-19 by developing at least eight different vaccine brands. These came from different countries and underwent several clinical trials before it was distributed to the general public. Hence:

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A 2018 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that as compared to fake news, true stories took around six times longer to reach 1,500 people in the social media platform, Twitter. Moreover, echo chambers in similar social media platforms have exacerbated the negative effects of these COVID-19 vaccine misinformation posts. The rapidity of the spread of fake news as compared to factual ones contributes to the burden of combating such spurious acts.

Although the government doesn’t mandate the public to get vaccinated, they encourage the public to get vaccinated and be protected against preventable disease. As citizens, it is our responsibility to cooperate with the government and private sectors in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones against this deadly virus.

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Vaccine Myth: It will turn people into monkeys.

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Vaccine Myth: It will turn people into monkeys.

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Another myth that has been circulating around is that the Oxford University and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will turn people into monkeys.The claim is being spread through memes and video clips, according to The Times of London, as part of a disinformation effort by Russian state authorities, primarily targeted at nations where Russia wants to sell its own COVID-19 vaccine.

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Vaccine Myth: These vaccines are rushed and unsafe. 

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Vaccine Myth: These vaccines are rushed and unsafe. 

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Many people are concerned about the process of manufacturing and creating vaccines. They believe that the vaccines were rushed and, as a result, are ineffective against the virus. However, according to an article published by the Memorial Hospital of Converse Country, the approval process for both of these vaccines was able to be accelerated due to the nature of the vaccine's mRNA technology. Because a version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus does not need to be introduced into the immune system, the approval process may be sped up. In fact, mRNA technology has been in development since the 1960s, so it is not new and is able to pass the approvals process.

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The first step to cure ignorance is to educate oneself.

Vaccines work by simulating the virus or bacterium that causes the sickness. This causes the body to produce antibodies in response. Once a person has been infected with the disease-causing virus or bacteria, these antibodies will protect them.

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The spreading of misinformation is very rampant now in our society. The arrival of different vaccines in the country plays a major role in decreasing cases of COVID-19. But because of the different misconceptions and the spread of fake information, a lot of citizens are having doubts whether or not they should get vaccinated. The fear spawned by these fake information have caused people to disregard the Department of Education's advice to get vaccinated.

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It is in times like these when partnerships from the different sectors are needed to give the people one last push towards safety from the enemy: the misinformation campaign against COVID-19 vaccines.

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However, with the rise of anti-vaccine propaganda comes an increase of vaccine hesitancy, further delaying the quest to end these lockdowns. These vaccine misinformation is a problem faced not only by the country, but also by the global community. In fact, a common conspiracy among Americans is that the vaccines are part of plan to kill the older adults in the population. A similar instance has also been reported in Davao City, where a religious leader was reprimanded after publicly claiming that vaccines turned people into zombies and that they contained microchips.

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A DAVAO City councilor said the City Government is monitoring the social media account of a religious leader that is behind the viral video claiming that individuals jabbed with the Covid-19 vaccine might turn into zombies.

Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte said in a radio interview that she personally saw the video, which was presented during the recent Covid-19 Task Force meeting.

Information that people will turn into zombies after getting the Covid-19 vaccine and other false information about the vaccine have been circulating on social media.

Villafuerte said the person subject on the viral video is a religious leader based in Davao City. The councilor said she knows the identity of the pastor.

Aside from the "zombie" claim, the pastor also claimed that the vaccine has a microchip that will be implanted to the vaccinee, said the councilor.

She said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio referred the video to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Unit.

Duterte-Carpio, in her radio interview on Monday, July 5, dispelled claims that vaccines can produce zombing, calling the claim "absurd."

Villafuerte said the church came out with an official statement saying that they will be seeking legal actions to the person who leaked the video, which was allegedly sent in a private chat group.

"Ilaha dawng demandahun [the video uploader] kay that is a private chat group daw (They are planning to file charges against the uploader since it was intended for a private chat group), but I think the reason na nag-leak ito (why it leaked) is because one of the person listening to him knew that he was committing something illegal," she said.

She apologized if the private video leaked. But she said spreading false information through the internet is illegal.

"But still, even if it's a leaked video, you are spreading misinformation. As a pastor, you know that you should only speak about things that are based on science -- evidence-based," the councilor said.

Villafuerte, in jest, said that it would be disadvantageous for those who will still refuse to be vaccinated.

"Ah! Mahimo ba ming zombie sa December unya kamo dili mo magpabakuna, kamo among kaunon. Naa nami kaunon (So if that is the case that we will turn into a zombie by December, and yet you will refuse to get vaccinated. It would be a pity because we might even eat you out)," she said.

The councilor, who is also a medical professional and the head of the committee on health, reiterated that the vaccines have been tested and proven to be safe and effective against the deadly virus.

She also called the false claims impossible, saying that other countries have already rolled out the vaccine way ahead of the Philippines, and that they have not reported anything unusual to the vaccines.

She urged the public to be wary of the information circulating online.

Villafuerte said the city will strictly monitor the account of this religious sect.

"We will make sure to monitor the account of this particular church -- ang kanilang (their) social media accounts. We have submitted through the mayor sa atong (to our) Cybercrime Unit, and as we speak, I'm sure they are monitoring [them]," the councilor said.

Villafuerte said the city is focusing on those individuals campaigning against vaccination, especially those spreading false information.

"Vaccination for Covid[-19] is, of course, not mandatory. It is a voluntary action. But ang atong hangyo (All we are asking), let us be heroes for our children," the councilor said, adding that it is the adult's role to have themselves vaccinated.

Children below 18 are currently not the priority of the country's vaccination program.

Villafuerte also appealed to the pastor to utilize his position in spreading accurate information on vaccines, and the government.

"Unta kung pastor ta, ang bibliya nalang or word of God na lang ang atong ipakatag. Dili manghilabot ang gobyerno (If you're a pastor, better focus on spreading the word of God from the bible. Don't meddle with the government)," adding that there is a separation of church and state," she said.

"Dili man unta mi manghilabot (We will not be interfering with your activities). But once you cross[ed] over and you already tackle things pertaining to public health, which is anymore not your domain, then diha nami musulod (that is the time we will step in)," she added.

The councilor admitted that the government is still struggling to convince the public to have themselves vaccinated, despite not making it mandatory.

But based on the assessment of the city's vaccination, there is a high reception on the city's vaccination program based on the number of people lining up in the vaccination hubs.

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City monitors pastor's account for spreading false Covid-19 info

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A DAVAO City councilor said the City Government is monitoring the social media account of a religious leader that is behind the viral video claiming that individuals jabbed with the Covid-19 vaccine might turn into zombies. Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte said in a radio interview that she personally saw the video, which was presented during the recent Covid-19 Task Force meeting.

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As the Philippines breezes past a full year of community quarantines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s healthcare system is arguably at the brink of collapse. Hence, efforts to inoculate the population continue.

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Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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Along with the 16 other Sustainable Development Goals developed by the United Nations, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals focuses on building and sustaining meaningful relationships between the government, the private sector, and the civil society. It recognizes the importance of solidarity to address issues that are detrimental to the community.