MINISTRY of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Advisor Dr Yogesh Choudhri says COVID-19 vaccine won’t increase blood pressure and sugar level of a person.
He uttered the statement during the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) talk-back show over the national broadcaster-SIBC on Sunday.
“We saw people come with blood pressure of 250 and 220 we do not give the vaccine to the person, not because the vaccine increases the sugar and blood pressure, the vaccine don’t increase blood pressure and sugar,” he said.
He said vaccine is unable to increase sugar level of a person. Some people after taking the vaccine their sugar level is high and they blame the vaccine for causing it.
He added this is not true, that’s why sugar patient and diabetic patient must go through medical diagnosing before taking the vaccine.
“We encourage people to take up their medical check-ups before they come to get their vaccine and the reason comes in two fold.
“First we use the opportunity to detect and diagnose hypertension and diabetic in the community because we knew people to come, so we measure their blood sugar and we measure their blood pressure.
“And if they are not diagnosed with diabetic and hypertension that is the time we use the opportunity to get more so that these people can be brought into the treatment and care.
“Second reason is that if you have a very high blood pressure or very high sugar at the time you take the vaccine, and if anything happens to you because of your blood pressure and diabetic you will blame the vaccine for that,” he said.
That’s why MHMS encourages person with diabetic and sugar to diagnose first so that they don’t blame the vaccine if they are not feeling well after taking the vaccine.
“…we load the blood pressure then when it comes back then we give the give the vaccine so, that you do not blame the vaccine,” he said.
Thus, Dr Choudhri encourages person who is not feeling well after getting the vaccine can directly contact 115 for medical treatment and care.
“Anyone who is not feeling well after taking the vaccine can contact the number 115 so that the person can be directed to appropriate person of the vaccination and will access your conditions and to see if it the cause of the vaccine or it because of other reason.
“Please reach out to us,” he said.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Newsroom, Honiara
