Department of Health(DOH)

Dear Mr. Ryan Cuartero Please be advised that we have endorsed your request to the Public Health Services Team (PHST) for action. Kindly await for their response, thank you

October 28, 2022 Dear Ryan Cuartero, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated Oct 19, 2022 01:26:49 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for New COVID-19 Vaccine Breast Milk Concerns. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. COVID-19 Vaccination among Lactating Individuals As outlined in Department of Health (DOH) Department Memorandum (DM) No. 2021-0406 or the Further Clarification on the Priority Population Groups Specified in the Department Memorandum No. 2021-0099, "Priority Group A3 shall be expanded to include pregnant women population given their secondary immunocompromised state." Further, based on the existing guidelines, all pregnant women may already be given their secondary immunocompromised state. DOH Administrative Order No. 20200-0005 or the "Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of the National Deployment and vaccination plan (NDVP) for COVID-19 Vaccines" which indicates : "COVID-19 vaccination during the first trimester of pregnancy shall not be recommended, but may be done for pregnant women at high risk for contracting COVID-19 provided that there is shared decision making between the pregnant patient and the attending physician evidence through a medical clearance. " On January 1, 2022, the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) released its updated Practice Bulletin on COVID-19 Vaccination of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women which support the COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant and lactating women, to wit: "COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for pregnant women. There is no evidence of adverse maternal or fetal effects from vaccinating pregnant individuals with the COVID-19 vaccine. Post-introduction surveillance data have not shown harmful effects in pregnancy. ' "COVID-19 vaccination is recommended among breastfeeding women. There is no need to avoid initiation or discontinue breastfeeding inpatients who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. You may access the POGS Practice Bulletin at https://pogsinc.orglwp-content/uploads 2022 01/POGS-Practice-Bulletin-l-Jan-2022edited2.pdf. Your right to request a review If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to the Central Appeals and Review Committee, at [email protected]. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully, FOI Decision Maker FOI Receiving Officer