Health Secretary Francisco Duque has reminded hospitals in the country to be ready for possible vaccine-related allergies once the country rolls out its vaccination plans.

Duque said that adverse effects following immunization should properly be documented.

“Dapat paghandaan din kung magkaroon ng ganun, kailangang handa ang mga ospital na makapagbigay ng mga gamot katulad ng epinephrine o adrenaline,” ABS-CBN News quoted Duque as saying.

Officials in the United Kingdom have issued a warning that people with a history of allergic reactions should not have the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine.

Two people have shown severe allergic reactions to the vaccine.

“Sinasabi nga nila sa advisory nila kung meron kang tukoy na allergy, ke sa gamot, ke sa pagkain, sa ibang bagay, wag ka na lang munang magpaturok kasi nga posibleng magkaroon ng malubhang allergy, mauwi sa anaphylactic shock na pwedeng magkaproblema,” Duque said.

A COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in the Philippines in the first or second quarter of next year.

“Best case scenario baka mga March, towards the end o the first quarter of 2021, o mga second quarter na mga April. Sa ngayon yung global supply ‘di pa akma sa demand. Patuloy ang paglilikha ng bakuna ng mga naturang vaccine manufacturing companies,” he added.