COVID-19 test results from self-swab possibly ‘questionable’

Duque: COVID-19 test results from self-swab possibly ‘questionable’

MANILA (Mabuhay) — A COVID-19 test result from a self-swab test may be “questionable” since there is no guarantee that protocols and standards were followed, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday after an actor went viral for collecting his own sample.

“Meron tayong mga panuntunan o pamantayan para gawin ‘yan. Hindi puwedeng sarili mong gagawin ‘yan (We have protocols for swabbing. You can’t just do it yourself),” Duque said at the Laging Handa briefing.

“Kung hindi naman ito naaayon sa mga tamang pamantayan ay kaduda-duda ang magiging resulta so hindi po natin dapat ginagawa ito (Your result will be questionable if you did not meet standards so let’s not do it ourselves),” he added.

Earlier this week, Robin Padilla went viral for posting a video of himself conducting a self-swab aboard a boat. He said no medical professional was available at the time.

Meanwhile, Duque also reminded the public that COVID-19 vaccines are not for sale after poll commissioner Rowena Guanzon tweeted that she was looking to buy jabs for her staff.

He said the Department of Health reminded Guanzon that the sale of COVID-19 vaccines is not yet permitted.

“Wala pang certificate of product registration kaya hindi mo pwedeng ibenta sa open market (You cannot sell vaccines in the open market without a certificate of product registration),” Duque explained.

Authorities have also launched investigations into the alleged selling of COVID-19 vaccination slots. (MNS) Earlier this week, Robin Padilla went viral for posting a video of himself conducting a selfswab aboard a boat. He said no medical professional was available at the time.

LGUs ordered to fast track vaccination, ease registration process

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units to fast track the vaccination of Filipinos by easing registration process and providing help to individuals needing assistance.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the department will soon issue a memorandum circular “fast tracking inoculation efforts” through online registration and traditional sign-ups for those who do not have access to the internet.

“Let’s speed up the masterlist, let’s use simple data, the simpler the better,” Año said on Wednesday night’s Cabinet

DILG SECRETARY EDUARDO AÑO

briefing presided by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The circular would focus on the following measures:

-Hasten masterlisting effort by streamlining data requirements. -Aggressive communication and advocacy for widespread immunization. This will also include swift response to individuals who will experience adverse reaction following vaccination. -Deployment of mobile units to deliver and administer vaccines. This will be done in partnership with private hospitals to ensure sufficient health care professionals. -Partner with private sector, non-government organizations, academe and religious organizations on the establishment of more vaccination sites and mass vaccination drive to boost acceptance and confidence.

The DILG chief said review of the

LGUs vaccination plans will continue. To date, a total of 25,994 LGUs have submitted plans to inoculate their constituents.

(MNS)

OCTA: NCR's COVID-19 cases now 80% lower than peak of surge

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The average number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila has fallen by around 80% from the peak of the surge in infections during the previous months, the OCTA Research group said Wednesday.

Professor Guido David said the capital region averaged 1,099 new COVID-19 cases daily over the past week.

“That is about 80% lower than the average during the peak of the surge. The single-day peak was 8,000 but the daily average peak was 5,550, so this is a significant improvement,” he said in an online forum.

David also said NCR's reproduction number, which refers to the number of people that each COVID-19 case can infect, has decreased to 0.53 while its positivity rate has gone down to 10% from a high of 25% in April.

“Obviously, we want to sustain this. Then again, we should remind everyone that even though we have made significant improvements, the NCR will always be at risk of another surge… that’s why the focus right now is on vaccinations,” he said.

David said the GCQ over Metro Manila and neighboring provinces should be “retained” in June.

David also reported that Quezon City, Zamboanga, Manila, Pasig, and Davao City registered the highest number of new COVID-19 cases over the past week.

Despite this, most cities posted a negative case growth rate, except for Davao City whose infections grew by 49%.

Quezon City and Zamboanga also logged high hospital occupancy rates of 62% and 70%, respectively.

The Philippines has 1,188,672 COVID-19 cases with 1,120,452 recoveries and 20,019 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon. (MNS)

TURNING 65

SOON?

ANY day on the 3 months before and 3 months after your 65th birthday, you may enroll on Medicare Part B at the Social Security office. If you don’t enroll, you will be meted a penalty if you enroll later, unless you have what is called a “creditable” coverage. If you don’t have “creditable” coverage and you enroll later than the 7-month window period, you may enroll only during the period from January 1st to March 31st, with an effective date of July 1st.

Medicare Part B takes care of your MD visits, laboratories, durable medical equipment (DME), and drugs you don’t administer yourself like flu and pneumonia shots as well as cancer drugs, etc.

Anyone enrolled on a Covered California health plan and enjoying an Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) that lowers monthly premiums must call Covered CA not later than 1 month before 65th birthmonth to disenroll from the plan. Let me illustrate: Jack will turn 65 on September 27, 2021. He is currently enrolled on a Bronze plan at the Covered CA paying only $20 monthly premium because his income entitles him to an APTC. Medicare Part B premium for 2021 is $148.50 monthly, or more for those with higher income. If Jack waits until 2022 to enroll on Medicare Part B so he may continue to enjoy paying only $20 monthly premium instead of the higher Medicare Part B , he will suffer a “double whammy” later on. 1) Social Security will penalize him for not enrolling on Medicare Part B during the required period – 3 months before and 3 months after his birth month (June 1 – December 31, 2021), and 2) the IRS will disallow his APTC for the period from September 1 to December 31, 2021. What should Jack do? 1. Call Social Security sometime in June to enroll on Medicare Part B for an effective date of September 1, 2021. AND, very important 2. Call Covered CA sometime in July to disenroll from the Bronze plan effective August 31. By September 1, 2021, Jack has Medicare Part A and Part B. He may decide to stick to Original Medicare and enroll on Medicare Part D and a Medicare Supplement Plan to cover his share of cost OR enroll on a Medicare Advantage Plan.

If you need help, call me at 323 535 7373 or e-mail me at: leo.balita@gmail.com.

About the author: Joleo “Leo” Monsalud, RICP@ holds CA life and health license #0G55218. He studied for MBA and Law at the University of the Philippines. He worked for United Laboratories, Inc. where his last position held was vice-president in charge as general manager of a division. He helps members choose the right Medicare health plan for them.

85% of health workers in PH vaccinated vs COVID-19, says DOH

2ND DOSE. A healthcare worker prepares to administer the Covid-19 vaccine during the second dose vaccination rollout for medical workers in the Department of Health-Calabarzon held at Quezon Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) Wednesday (May 19, 2021). Healthcare workers are the priorities in the inoculation program of the government.

(MNS photo)

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines has vaccinated about 85 percent of its estimated 1.7 million medical frontliners, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

At least 1.3 million health workers have received their first vaccine dose, according to a slideshow that Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje flashed during a televised public briefing.

Health workers belong to "A1", the top priority group in the vaccination drive that began March 1. "Karamihan po ng ating nabakunahan, iyong tinatawag nating priority A1. Nasa 85 percent na po tayo ng ating A1 ng first dose na master listed," Cabotaje said.

Most of the health workers who have yet to get vaccinated are in the provinces, she said, adding some remain hesitant to get the jabs. "Kailangan natin pong hikayatin ang ating mga barangay health workers, ating members ng barangay emergency response teams. Medyo nag-aatubili pa sila," Cabotaje said.

The Philippines has taken delivery of some 8.279 million COVID-19 shots. Authorities have administered at least 4.305 million of these doses nationwide, as of May 24.

Between 58 and 70 million are targeted for inoculation in the country to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, 1,188,672 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the country, of which, 48,201 or 4.1 percent are considered active. (MNS)

Philippines to launch P100-M study on COVID-19 vaccine performance in real world conditions

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines will mount a P100-million project to study the performance of COVID-19 vaccines in real world conditions, an official from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Tuesday.

DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the study, expected to start in June, will track around 1,000

DOST UNDERSECRETARY ROWENA GUEVARA

individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The project will be led by Dr. Nina Berba from the University of the Philippines Manila. "What they will do is, while vaccinations are ongoing, they will select participants and follow them for about a year or so to see what happens to them after inoculation," Guevara explained in a mix of English and Filipino during a health department forum.

“It will answer questions on the effect of the ethnicity [on vaccines],” she added.

Guevara said the study will also aim to find out the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines over time, as current data is insufficient.

The project has yet to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

The head of the Vaccine Expert Panel earlier said the COVID-19 vaccines that have been rolled out in the Philippines perform better in real world conditions than in clinical trials.

Health authorities have also repeat-

PH receives 3 new Covid-19 clinical trial applications

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Three more vaccine developers have applied to conduct a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine clinical trials in the Philippines, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said Tuesday.

In an online forum, Guevara said the Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection has received new Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial applications from West China Hospital and Sichuan University; Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co.; and Korea-based Eubiologics Co. Ltd. "Evaluation of the first two new applications are ongoing, while Eubiologics is still completing some requirements," she said.

Guevara said the DOST is waiting for the final protocol and list of vaccines from the World Health Organization, so that the Solidarity Vaccine Trials may be applied with the Ethics Board and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval.

She said to date, the FDA has approved three Covid-19 vaccine clinical trials. "Janssen's and Clover Biopharmaceuticals' clinical trials are ongoing. Sinovac's clinical trial, on the other hand, has not started yet, and FDA is awaiting the submission of (Sinovac's) protocol amendment," she said. (MNS)

edly stressed that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, with less than 1% of recipients reporting serious side effects, none of which have been found to be directly caused by the jab.

The Philippines has so far vaccinated over 3 million people, still far from the government’s target of inoculating 50 million to 70 million people this year. (MNS)