113,000 adverse effects of immunization recorded

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly three years since COVID-19 vaccines became available in the country, over 113,000 reports of adverse effects following immunization (AEFIs) were recorded by the Food and Drug Administration.

Latest data from the FDA showed there were a total of 113,166 AEFIs reported – 0.06 percent of the 181,645,251 doses administered from March 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2023.

Of the total AEFIs reported, the FDA classified 102,361 as non-serious, such as body pain, chills, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea and pain in the injection site.

Meanwhile, there were 10,805 AEFIs deemed as serious, including severe allergic reactions, increased blood pressure, thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome, inflammation of the heart and significant disability/incapacity.

As to the vaccines used in the country, Astra Zeneca registered the most AEFIs with 37,764 (out of 23,931,246 doses) and Sinovac with 37,353 AEFIs (out of 48,734,507 doses).

In the case of Pfizer, there were 23,974 AEFIs (out of 77,024,785); Moderna with 7,044 (out of 21,605,790) and Jannsen with 5,668 (out of 7,654,344).