By Lou Ellen Antonio

ILIGAN CITY (PIA) – Patients undergoing hemodialysis here are encouraged to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This is after Dr. Rosalie Imelda Orejudos, a nephrologist and internist, revealed that the vaccine against Covid-19 is helpful to patients who have chronic kidney disease or undergoing hemodialysis because the side effects are less severe when they are exposed to the virus.

“Pwede gyud sila na mabakaunahan ug anti-Covid. Amo nakita na katong sa una wala pa tay mga bakuna, daghan gyud ang naadmit nga nag dialysis patient na nagkaCovid. Pero karon na nakbakuna na kita sa pasyente sa hemodialysis patient, kung ma Covid sila ma mild nalang,” she said. 

[They can be vaccinated with anti-Covid. We have seen before that when we do not have vaccines, there are many admitted dialysis patients who are Covid positive. But now that the patients are vaccinated when they acquire COVID, symptoms are mild.]

Orejudos said that vaccinated patients are no longer admitted to hospitals and are already at home unlike before when patients need to be admitted because their oxygen is low. 

The nephrologist also said that patients can consult their doctors to assess their situation and get medical clearance.

In addition, hemodialysis is also free for patients of Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital (GTLMH) through the Malasakit Center. (LELA/ PIA Lanao del Norte)