13
VACCInformation:
A Quick Guide to COVID - 19 Vaccines Anthea D. Reformado
It is truly alarming how the Philippines is experiencing a continuous increase in COVID-19 cases. Due to the pandemic, people deal with uncertainty and fear of being exposed to the virus. That is why it is important to take precautionary measures to protect yourself, your family, and your friends. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccines train our immune system to recognize the targeted virus and create antibodies to fight off the disease without getting the disease itself. After vaccination, the body is ready to fight the virus if it is later exposed to it, thus preventing illness. COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and highly effective as they undergo extensive clinical trials. Vaccines save millions of lives each year. Being vaccinated does not mean only protecting oneself, but also the people in the community who are unable to be vaccinated. Here is a quick guide on the list of COVID-19 vaccines with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approvals by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VACCINE NAME: BNT162b2 / Comirnaty MANUFACTURER: Pfizer - BioNTech COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US, Germany TYPE OF VACCINE: Encapsulated mRNA Vaccine AGE GROUP COVERED: 12 years of age and older EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 95% against symptomatic COVID-19 PRICE: P2,379 for 2 doses NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -80°C to -60°C COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, headache, nausea, chills, and fever. PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: January 14, 2021
VACCINE NAME: ChAdOx1 / AZD1222 MANUFACTURER: Oxford - AstraZeneca COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: UK, Sweden TYPE OF VACCINE: Viral Vector Vaccine (Non - replicating) AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 81.3% against symptomatic COVID-19 PRICE: P610 for 2 doses NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 4-12 weeks apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -25°C - 15°C for 7 months, +2°C - 8°C for 30 days COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain and tenderness at the injected site, fever, headache, fatigue, chills, and muscle ache. PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: January 28, 2021
VACCINE NAME: Sputnik V / Gam-COVID-Vac MANUFACTURER: Gamaleya Sputnik V COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: Russia TYPE OF VACCINE: Viral Vector Vaccine (Non - replicating) AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 91.6% against symptomatic COVID-19 PRICE: P1,220 for 2 doses NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21-42 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -18°C below COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, colds PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: March 19, 2021
VACCINE NAME: mRNA-1273 MANUFACTURER: Moderna COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US TYPE OF VACCINE: Encapsulated mRNA Vaccine AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 94.1% against symptomatic COVID-19 PRICE: P3,904 - P4,504 for 2 doses NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 28 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: -25°C - 15°C for 7 months, +2°C - 8°C for 30 days COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: May 5, 2021
VACCINE NAME: Sinovac - CoronaVac MANUFACTURER: Sinovac COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: China TYPE OF VACCINE: Inactivated Virus Vaccine AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 100% against severe COVID-19, 83.5% against symptomatic COVID-19 PRICE: P3,629.50 for 2 doses NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 28 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Fatigue, headache, muscle pain (mild symptoms) PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: February 22, 2021
VACCINE NAME: Ad26.COV2.S1 / JNJ-78436735 MANUFACTURER: Janssen / Johnson & Johnson COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US TYPE OF VACCINE: Viral Vector Vaccine (Non - replicating) AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 85.4% against severe COVID-19, 66.9% against symptomatic COVID-19 PRICE: Approximately P487 for 1 dose NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 1 dose STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: 2°C - 8°C for 3 months COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, fever, chills, headache, nausea, fatigue. PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: April 19, 2021
VACCINE NAME: BBIBP-CorV MANUFACTURER: Sinopharm COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: China TYPE OF VACCINE: Inactivated Virus Vaccine AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 79% against severe & symptomatic COVID-19 NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21-28 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Pain at the injected site, headache PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: June 7, 2021
VACCINE NAME: COVAXIN MANUFACTURER: Bharat BioTech COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: India TYPE OF VACCINE: Inactivated Virus Vaccine AGE GROUP COVERED: 18 years of age and older EFFICACY: 93.4% against severe COVID-19, 77.8% against symptomatic COVID-19 NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 28 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, fatigue, nausea, body ache, fever PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: April 19, 2021
VACCINE NAME: NVX-CoV2373 MANUFACTURER: Novavax COUNTRY OF VACCINE DEVELOPER: US TYPE OF VACCINE: Protein Subunit AGE GROUP COVERED: Awaiting EUA Approval EFFICACY: 100% against hospitalization PRICE: P366 for 2 doses NUMBER OF DOSES & FREQUENCY: 2 doses, given 21 days apart STORAGE REQUIREMENTS: +2°C - 8°C COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Headache, muscle pain, fatigue, fever PHILIPPINE FDA EUA APPROVAL: Awaiting EUA Approval
In WHO’S Vaccine Explained Series, mild-to-moderate side effects caused by the vaccines, such as fever, pain or redness at the injection site are normal and should go away on their own within a few days. The prices of different COVID-19 vaccine brands indicated above were from the data released by the Senate committee on finance chair Sonny Angara. Always remember that the best vaccine is the one that is available to you. If you are eligible, get vaccinated.
