WITH ONLY 1.4% FULLY JABBED

OCTA fellow: No big changes to COVID-19 trends until 30-50% of population vaccinated

No significant changes to the Philippines’ COVID-19 trends will be observed until 30% to 50% of the population has been vaccinated against the respiratory illness, a fellow of the OCTA Research group said Wednesday.

At a Laging Handa briefing, Professor Ranjit Rye said the current number of vaccinations is still too small to have an effect on the country’s COVID-19 figures.

The Philippines has vaccinated over 4.6 million individuals as of June 8, according to the Department of Health (DOH), or around 4% of the population. Only 1.6 million people have received both doses, or around 1.4%.

The government’s goal is to inoculate 58 million people in COVID-19 hotspots by November.

“Napakakaunti pa ng nababakunahan sa buong bansa (The number of vaccinated individuals nationwide is so low),” Rye said.

“We need something like 30% to 50% to see significant changes in the trends as far as the epidemic is concerned,” he added.

The DOH earlier said experts also wanted to see at least 30% of the population vaccinated before restrictions are loosened for individuals who have completed their doses.

Meanwhile, Rye urged the government to stay “eagle eyed” in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, especially in inoculating residents of Metro Manila and neighboring provinces where COVID-19 cases are high.

“If government will stick to the plan, we will have some good news by September, October as far as containment is concerned and if we work really hard together… we will have a better Christmas definitely,” he said.

Rye also called on the public to avoid being complacent when it comes to health protocols against COVID-19.

“While the vaccination program is being rolled out and the percentage of vaccinated individuals is still low, we are vulnerable to surges and outbreaks which is why we need to continue being vigilant,” he stressed.

The Philippines has tallied 1,280,773 COVID-19 infections with 1,202,257 recoveries and 22,064 deaths as of Tuesday. -MDM, GMA News