AN OVERSEAS Filipino worker (OFW) from Mandaue City, who has been inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH 7) confirmed Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH 7 spokesperson, cited three possible reasons for the infection.
She said it was “highly probable” that the protection promised by the vaccine has not kicked in.
Secondly, she said there has been no scientific evidence yet on the extent of immunity that a vaccine can provide.
Thirdly, the OFW may have been infected with a new variant of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
The OFW is now asymptomatic, Loreche said.
All vaccines developed against Covid-19 are still under development. While most have promised protection against severe Covid-19, only a couple have initially shown efficacy against the new Sars-CoV-2 variants. The vaccine from Sinopharm, China’s state-owned pharmaceutical firm, is not among them.