June 16, 2023
Dear Ryan Cuartero,
Greetings!
Thank you for your request dated May 31, 2023 12:33:50 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.
Your Request
You asked for Safety and Immunogenicity of Mixing Different COVID-19 Vaccines:Adults.
Response to Request
Please be informed that all of the approved COVID-19 vaccines have been carefully tested and continue to be monitored. Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines go through a rigorous, multi-stage testing process, including extensive clinical trials that involve tens of thousands of people. These trials are specifically designed to identify any safety concerns. Please see the link for reference, https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines-safety
Further, the policies and plan of action the national government takes on COVID-19 are formulated based on the recommendations of independent bodies of expert on COVID-19 such as the the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) on immunization, Technical Advisory Group (TAG), and the Philippine COVID-19 Living Recommendations Group. Further, health experts from the Vaccine Expert Panel, Health Technology Assessment Councl, and Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate all COVID-19 vaccine candidates to provide safe and effective vaccination recommendations.
In addition,the FDA, through the Executive Order No. 121 s. 2020, authorizes the issuance of the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), allowing the use of drugs and vaccines in a state of public health emergency. Further information can be accessed through this link: https://www.fda.gov.ph/list-of-fda-issued-emergency-use-authorization/
In some studies reviewed by the LCPG Panel, heterologous primary vaccination resulted in higher immune response compared with homologous vaccination, while generally well-tolerated with mostly mild to moderate adverse reactions which include pain at injection site, fever, headache, myalia, and fatigue. The Philippine COVID-19 Living Clinical Practice Guidelines (LCPG) has strongly recommended the use of vaccines and its importance in providing protection against the COVID-19 infection. This may be accessed through this link: http://bit.ly/PSMIDLCPG.
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