Vaccinate NCR residents to slow down spread of COVID-19 —OCTA Research expert

An expert from OCTA Research group has recommended to the national government to prioritize the vaccination rollout in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Dr. Guido David pointed out that NCR, considered as the center of the pandemic, affects the situation of the entire country.

“Lalo na limited ‘yung vaccine rollout natin, ang recommendation sana natin ma-priority natin ‘yung NCR kasi nandito naman talaga ‘yung center,” he said.

(Especially that our vaccination rollout is limited, we would like to recommend prioritizing the NCR since this is the center of the pandemic.)

David said the coronavirus could not spread if around 7 or 8 million Metro Manila residents, as well as the residents from nearby regions like Calabarzon and Central Luzon, have already been vaccinated.

With this, herd immunity can be reached in areas of concern, he added.

He said it would take time for the national government to vaccinate 70% of the total population of the country, which is around 70 million people, to achieve herd immunity.

Earlier this month, David said the daily new cases of COVID-19 in the NCR may reach 5,000 by March 31 as the projected reproduction number may have already increased.

“Actual cases are now beating projections. Reproduction number in NCR estimated to be around 1.8. This surge is increasing faster than we thought,” he told GMA News.

“If Rt = 1.8, then we will have more than 4,000 cases by March 31 (may even reach 5,000 per day) in NCR,” he added.

According to David, they are receiving reports that most of these cases were transmitted within families or households.

The government’s priority list in the vaccination rollout does not consider the location of recipients. The prioritization is based on job, age, health status, and socio-economic status.

Recently, Moody’s Analytics said the Philippines is not likely to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 until 2023, which could slow the pace of the economic recovery.

In his Asia-Pacific Economic outlook, Moody’s Analytics chief economist for Asia-Pacific Steven Cochrane said the Philippines will lag behind its peers in the region in terms of recovering to its pre-pandemic economic growth.—AOL, GMA News