Health officials play down fears against covid-19 side effects

BAGUIO CITY – (11 February 2021) – “The benefits  of vaccination for ourselves and families  far outweigh  the risk.”

This was the assertion of Health Services Office (HSO) chief Dr. Rowena Galpo in a media forum Wednesday at City Hall as she encouraged all those who are eligible to have themselves vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 when the vaccines arrive.

She was seconded by fellow forum panelists SLU Hospital of the Sacred Health Medical Director Dr. Paul Quitiquit and HSO risk communications group coordinator Cecille Agpawa.

Assuaging fears of some sectors  claiming that the covid-19 vaccines may cause life-threatening side effects, Galpo assured that these  would be just like those felt  when injected with measles, flu or other regular vaccinations that many have already taken.

To further ease the minds of those having second thoughts, Quitiquit said medical professionals will be present during the vaccination process to ensure that immediate assistance be given anyone who might feel something out of the ordinary after  injected with the covid vaccine.

SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart is one of five hospitals that will serve as vaccination sites as stated in the city’s vaccine deployment and immunization action plan crafted by Galpo and city planning and development office head Archt. Donna Rillera Tabangin.

Meanwhile, Agpawa is urging the public to  get their covid-19 and other related information not just anywhere but only from reliable sources like respected media outlets or Department of Health, HSO, PIA, PIO-Baguio websites and the like.

The public should be discerning where their information is coming from especially on serious matters like covid-19, she stressed.-Gaby B. Keith