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Duque heeds calls, agrees to take first shot of vaccine from China
By Fernan Angeles APPALLED by nasty remarks on the government’s preference for Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines, Health Secretary Francisco Duque agreed to take the first shot of it before the government starts administering vaccination to some 24 million Filipinos on the “priority list.” In an online press briefing, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said that aside from…
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DOH issues guidelines for the holidays
By Fernan Angeles THE Department of Health (DOH) has issued public health guidelines aimed at making sure the surge of infections does not take place while Filipinos celebrate the holidays. In releasing DOH circular No. 2020-0355, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire advised limited face-to-face activities even during the holidays and instead conduct celebrations virtually, do their…
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DOH warns hospitals selling donated PPEs
By John Clifford Lintao THE Department of Health warned hospitals against charging its patients for personal protective equipment (PPE) which were donated to them amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire did not make any categorical statement confirming such practice, but hinted at their capability to monitor and determine instances…
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DOH hints at price control on swab test
By Fernan Angeles EXPECT an executive order setting a price cap on RT–PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) or swab tests for COVID-19, said the Department of Health. In a statement, Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said that they have already asked the Office of the President to issue an EO for the suggested retail price (SRP)…
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DOH shuns Duterte’s criteria on vaccine pick
By Fernan Angeles IF they had their way, the Department of Health would consider safety and effectiveness of the potential vaccine against COVID-19, if and when the country opts to buy them from foreign countries. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire’s statement is far from the criteria earlier hinted at by President Rodrigo Duterte who is…
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Gov’t may enforce ban on home quarantine
By John Clifford Lintao TOP government officials who would be infected with COVID-19 would soon be joining hundreds or thousands of ordinary citizens in government-designated quarantine facilities as the Department of Health underscored the need to immediately effect the proposal of COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force to prohibit home quarantine for COVID-19 patients and their close…
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DOH probes private labs for differences in COVID-19 test results
By Fernan Angeles DISCREPANCIES in the COVID-19 results between the government and accredited private laboratories have compelled the Department of Health (DOH) to look into what appears to be another fraud, apparently referring to two incidents of individuals in Pampanga where test results were found conflicting. In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario…
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DOH not sure on UP’s ‘flatten the curve’ projection
By Fernan Angeles THE Department of Health does not seem convinced on the projection of University of the Philippines experts who expressed optimism on a trend that would see flattening of the COVID-19 curve by next month. In a television interview Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said she cannot categorically say if the infections…
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Many COVID-19 Filipino patients found to be in 20-59 age bracket
By John Clifford Lintao A BIG number of Filipinos infected by COVID-19 are aged 20 to 59 years which the Department of Health (DOH) described as the productive bracket. In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said: “Ito pong 20 to 59 years old, ito po ang productive age group, sila kasi iyong…
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FDA: Vaccine may be available by year-end
By Fernan Angeles THE government is optimistic that a vaccine against COVID-19 infection would most likely be available by the end of the year. Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo, concurrent director general of the Food and Drugs Administration, said that by that time, the world would probably have hundreds of vaccines which have already passed the…