Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 13) — The Department of Health said the Philippines is in a race against the coronavirus variants of concern as other countries are being challenged to control their spread.
“We are in a race against the variants of concern at nakararanas ngayon ang ibang bansa ng matinding surge dahil sa pagkalat ng mga variant (and other countries are experiencing surge due to the spread of the variants),” DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said during a taped briefing
Currently, a spike has been prevented in the Philippines and the number of cases in some areas is plateauing due to the strict community restrictions being implemented to prevent the spread of variants, especially the more transmissible ones, Duque explained.
However, he noted that efforts should not be wasted which is why it is important that more Filipinos, especially the elderly, get immunized.
“Hindi natin dapat ito sayangin at dapat itong maging daan tungo sa pagbabakuna ng mas marami pang Pilipino lalo na ng mga senior citizens,” Duque said.
[Translation: Efforts should not be wasted, and this should be the way for more Filipinos, especially the senior citizens, to get vaccinated.]
There have been concerns on whether COVID-19 shots are effective against the coronavirus variants, especially those listed as variants of concern. There are also calls to the administration for a booster shot to ensure that one has the right protection from getting infected.
Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo assured that coronavirus vaccines remain useful despite this threat. Citing data from the World Health Organization, he noted that vaccines remain effective against the variants of concern despite reduction in their efficacy level.
Generally, efficacy of vaccines decline up to 20% when one is exposed to the Alpha variant. For the Beta variant, efficacy declines up to 30%.
Data for the Gamma and Delta variants are not yet complete, but those current available show that efficacy of COVID-19 shots are reduced by up to 20% for both.
Domingo then reiterated the call to get inoculated whatever the brand is to protect oneself from the virus.
To date, the government has administered more than 13 million vaccine doses, of which around 3.5 million Filipinos have completed their COVID-19 shots.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said they target to reach at least 7 million fully vaccinated individuals by the end of July. This as the government aims to immunize at least 60% of the population, with more focus in Metro Manila, to achieve population protection.
LOOK: Efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines vs. variants of concern pic.twitter.com/pUG9bhxouz
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) July 12, 2021
