Several gauges and measurements are being conducted by medical researchers to ensure that all adverse effect events following immunization against the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are indeed related to the vaccines.
In Baguio City, the City Health Services Office monitors death among vaccinated individuals and reports these to the regional committee of the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) – a group of experts studying if death is related to the vaccines.
Samples of swab tests and laboratories are also being sent to the AEFI committee to complete the study, said City Epidemiologist Donnabel Panes.
From August 18 to 21, Baguio City recorded five deaths among vaccinated individuals. Laboratory samples were sent to the AEFI committee immediately.
“Based on the AEFI feedback, the two died due to pre-existing comorbidities and that their deaths are not related to the vaccines; while the other three, we are still waiting for the results of deliberation,” Panes explained.
Panes explained majority of deaths among vaccinated individuals is due to their underlying comorbidities which were no longer controlled when they were confined for medical complications.
CHSO data proves that two months after the roll-out of vaccination against COVID-19, fatality rate among infected individuals decreased by 68 percent as of August 26.
The CHSO iterates minimal deaths among vaccinated individuals and these were not caused by the vaccines inoculated to them.
In an earlier mini-study by the CHSO on reported deaths due to COVID-19, it was uncovered that 96 percent of those who passed away were unvaccinated.
In the AEFI research, brands of vaccine used among deaths as well as pre-existing health conditions are also being reviewed. Findings and recommendations will then be forwarded to the national AEFI level up to the World Health Organization.
“We are doing this to contribute to science research in our little ways, by forwarding factual reports on COVID-19 vaccination to the pool of experts under the AEFI committees,” Panes said. /Jessa Samidan