DOCTOR EDSEL Maurice Salvana, a molecular epidemiologist from the University of the Philippines, has warned the public against getting an unauthorized booster shot against COVID-19.
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| Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana |
In his social media page, Salvana wrote: “I’m not blind or naive. I know some of you have taken boosters. I know a lot of people don’t use face shields with their masks. As a doctor, I base my recommendations on what I believe is in the best interest of a patient. As someone who keeps updated on the latest studies and has the requisite training to analyze this data, I try my best to give the safest and most beneficial advice. Ultimately, that's what it is, a recommendation.”
“I never take it personally when a patient doesn’t follow what I recommend. In a way, it's a relief because I am no longer responsible for what happens because the patient didn't follow the advice. The only downside for me is that I end up taking care of people who could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they had listened in the first place. Such a waste of everyone’s time.”
Salvana also said that in the past days, three people have asked his help after taking unauthorized booster jabs and had a bad reaction. And he posted this on his Facebook page: “Three people now in the last three days sheepishly asking for help since they took an unauthorized booster and had a really bad reaction. Here are my thoughts:
1. If someone is willing to give you a shot “off
the record,” how sure are you that’s a real COVID-19 vaccine you're getting?
Could be water. Worse, might be contaminated and you get a very bad infection.
Even if it’s real, it might be expired or improperly stored.
2. We still aren’t sure which vaccines are safe to
mix with others. Early data shows higher reactions with mixing for most
combinations. You're really taking a gamble by haphazardly mixing without
proper safety data to back it up.
3. The efficacy of a third shot remains unclear, especially with different combinations. So you might be risking a bad reaction with no clear benefit. For instance, Astra uses an adenovirus carrier which our body makes antibodies against. A third shot may not work because your body kills the adenovirus before it can deliver its load. This is why Gamaleya uses different adenoviruses for its 1st and 2nd dose.”
Salvana said taking any unauthorized medicine is not just against the law, but “you are literally playing around with your health and with your life. Doctors study immunology and vaccinology for many years, and if we recommend a drug, we are accountable for that advice. Please stop experimenting. You might end up with something worse than COVID-19.”
The Duterte administration is also considering “heterologous vaccination” for fully vaccinated individuals who are up for their third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to boost immunity.
Heterologous vaccination or mixing different vaccine brands would ensure the public’s immunity against the deadly coronavirus regardless of manufacturers’ supply, said Carlito Galvez Jr., in-charge of the government’s vaccine procurement program.
Galvez said they are awaiting recommendations from vaccine experts before giving the third dose specifically to healthcare workers, immunocompromised people or those having an impaired immune system, and the elderly.
He said the emergency use authorization issued to different Covid-19 vaccine brands must also be amended before giving the booster shot to the intended segment of the population.
Apart from heterologous vaccination, Galvez said one other government strategy is to vaccinate 90% of the student population and teaching personnel to gradually bring the country back to normalcy.
Galvez, who is also the National Task Force Against Covid-19 policies chief implementer, said that apart from economic revival, the government also focuses on pediatric vaccination, considering the psychological and emotional toll of the pandemic on the youth as a result of the nearly two years of lockdowns and restrictions.
Citing studies conducted by psychologists, Galvez noted a 300 to 400% increase in cases of depression and suicidal ideation among the younger population during the pandemic. “Once the children are vaccinated against the coronavirus, the government could start easing the restrictions, allowing young people to go out, socialize, and play,” he said.
With the help of the local governments, Galvez said he is optimistic that pediatric vaccination will be completed by December this year. (Mindanao Examiner)
