of the Philippines

Republic
Department of Health
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

13 August 2021
DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR
No. 2021-0102 -A
TO: ALL CENTERS FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTORS, CHIEF OF HOSPITALS/MEDICAL CENTERS/
SANITARIA, REGIONAL BLOOD PROGRAM
COORDINATORS, BLOOD BANK HEADS, LEAD BLOOD
SERVICE FACILITIES, PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICERS,
PHILIPPINE RED CROSS OFFICIALS, MINISTRY OF
HEALTH OF THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION
IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (MOH-BARMM), AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS CONCERNED

SUBJECT: Amendment to Department Circular No. 2021-0102 dated 09

March 2021 entitled “Updating of Timing of Blood Donation
When Donors Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in the A to Z Guide to
Medical Assessment of Blood Donors”

The National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) has factored in the ongoing
implementation and expansion of the eligible priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccination
rollout and its impact on the country’s blood supply.

In consideration to the updated recommendations from World Health Organization (WHO),

American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority
(HSA), Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services
Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) and local professional organizations such as
Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), and Philippine
College of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine (PCHTM).

The NVBSP and the National Council for Blood Services - Technical Committee (Core
Group) hereby issue the recommended list of deferral periods for individuals who have
received a vaccine against COVID-19 prior to blood donation, as provided in the table
below. The recommended timing of blood donation is specific for each type of COVID-19
vaccine and shall apply every after vaccination regardless of the number of doses that
were received.

In relation to this, the Department Circular No. 2021-0102 dated 09 March 2021 entitled
“Updating of Timing of Blood Donation When Donors Receive COVID-19 Vaccine in the
A to Z Guide to Medical Assessment of Blood Donors” is
hereby amended to change:

From:
Type of COVID-19 Vaccines Timing of Blood Donation
Live attenuated vaccine 28 days after vaccination of second dose
Viral-vector based vaccine
28 days after vaccination of second dose
(non-replicating)

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Inactivated vaccine 28 days after vaccination of second dose

Subunit vaccine Accept, anytime if asymptomatic
mRNA-based vaccine Accept, anytime if asymptomatic
Unknown vaccine type 28 days after vaccination of second dose
NOTE:
If a person experiences vaccine-related Further deferral of 28 days after resolution of
symptoms such as fever, rashes, muscle
symptoms
ache, joint pain

To:

Type of COVID-19 Vaccines
Viral-vector based vaccine
(non-replicating)
Inactivated vaccine
Subunit vaccine
Novavax
mRNA-based vaccine
Unknown vaccine type
Example of COVID-19
Vaccine Brand/s
AstraZeneca, Janssen,
Sputnik V
CoronaVac, Covaxin
Moderna, Pfizer-BioNtech
Timing of Blood Donation
Accept, anytime if
asymptomatic
Accept, anytime if
asymptomatic
Accept, anytime if
asymptomatic
Accept, anytime if
asymptomatic
14 days after vaccination, if
asymptomatic

NOTE:
If a person experiences vaccine-related symptoms such as May donate 7 days after
localized muscle ache or pain at injection site. resolution of symptoms
For fever or chills, rashes, generalized muscle ache or
Joint pain, swelling lymph nodes, and other systemic May donate 14 days after
resolution of symptoms
symptoms.
For symptoms not included in the list, donors should be instructed to please call the
medical officer/blood bank/ blood center personnel to check if they are eligible to
donate. This is to account for other uncommon vaccine related symptoms the donor may
have experienced (e.g. allergic reaction, swelling (face, eyelids, lips), difficulty of
breathing etc) or the symptom may not be related to the vaccine.

As thus amended, all other provisions in the said issuance not affected by this amendment
shall remain in effect.

Dissemination of information to all concerned is hereby requested.

By the Authority of the Secretary of Health:

MARIA ROSARIP'S. VERGEIRE, MD, MPH, CESO II

OIC-Undersecret of Health
Public Health Services Team