Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5) — Former task force adviser Dr. Tony Leachon said while the new IATF guidelines waiving the negative COVID-19 test for fully vaccinated individuals is a good measure, its implementation is still “premature.”
Leachon pointed out that the viral transmission in provinces like Davao, Iloilo and Bacolod, are still not yet contained.
He also said the threat of the highly transmissible Delta variant is still there, and there’s no assurance that fully vaccinated individuals can no longer transmit the virus.
“That’s a good move moving forward, but the threat of Delta variant is always there. The positivity rate increased in the countryside, more than the NCR. But even in the NCR, the positivity rate is 6%. In other areas 20%, so it’s still high.,” Leachon said.
He noted the government has to control virus transmission first.
“The most prudent way is still not to be too complacent about it, kasi ang unang-una sa pagcontrol ng pandemic is testing e. Napakaiportante yan, contact tracing and vaccination. But ang testing natin, tatanggalin natin e yan ang weakest link, and contact tracing is virtually absent, and our vaccination rate is a measly 3% lang of population,” Leachon said.
[Translation: The most prudent way is still not to be too complacent about it, because when controlling a pandemic, testing really comes first. But our testing, if we take it out that’s the weakest link, and contact tracing is virtually absent and out vaccination rate is a measly 3% of the population]
The Health Department admitted fully vaccinated individuals may still be infected and can transfer the virus to other people. However, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there are safeguards in place, such as symptoms screening.
“We have the fully vaccinated who can travel interzonal, and oo tama yan pwede sila mahawa, pwede silang makapanghawa kahit fully vaccinated pero may safeguards tayo. Kaya sinasabi namin sa local government, there has to be strict symptoms screening. Kailangan may monitoring tayo, kailangan din as soon as may mararamdaman ang fully vaccinated, kailangan tumulong din kayo. Isolate yourself agad,” Vergeire said.
[Translation: We have the fully vaccinated who can travel interzonal, and yes that’s correct they can infect others even if fully vaccinated but there are safeguards. That’s why we tell the local government there has to be strict symptoms screening. There has to be monitoring, the public also has to do their part and isolate themselves when they experience symptoms even if they are fully vaccinated.]
However, Leachon said there might still be asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers who might not be detected during the screening.
“We see a lot of asymptomatic cases e…you’re coming from an area of higher quarantine classification and higher positivity rate, higher reproduction number, to an area of lesser risk. How do you ensure that these people who will come into NCR ay okay [are okay]?,” Leachon said.
“Another problem is, how can we be assured of vaccination? Based on documents ba? Ano ba ang guidelines dito [What are the guidelines]?,” he added
But in a Facebook post, molecular epidemiologist Dr. Edsel Salavana explained that “fully-vaccinated individuals are much less likely to contract COVID-19. Even if they end up with breakthrough infection, the amount of virus they release is much less than that of an unvaccinated individual and there is a lower chance of transmission. Also, testing with RT-PCR in asymptomatic persons is generally low yield and is even less fruitful in fully vaccinated asymptomatic individuals. Strict exposure and symptom screening remain in place for incoming travelers. “
