Shift to ‘population protection’ vs. COVID-19 due to limited vaccine supply, says expert

The country's temporary shift to population protection instead of herd immunity against COVID-19 was prompted by the lack of vaccine supply, infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said.

Solante, a member of the country's vaccine experts panel, said population protection is an effective way of maximizing the available doses even as herd immunity or vaccinating 70 to 80 percent of the population remains the ideal target.

"If we vaccinate 70% to 80% of our population, we will achieve herd immunity. Mas maganda pa kung mas mataas pa riyan. Dahil sa limited nating supply ng bakuna ngayon, pumunta tayo sa population protection, which is the protection of population which are high risk for hospitalization and high risk for death," Solante said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(It would be even better if we vaccinate more than 70% or 80% for herd immunity, but due to our limited COVID-19 vaccine supply, we shifted to population protection  which is prioritizing vaccination of those at  high risk for hospitalization, high risk for death.)

Solante said this is the reason health workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities are being prioritized in the vaccination program.

"If these sectors are vaccinated, we are confident that our hospitals will not be overwhelmed," Solante pointed out.

"Ang target talaga ng gobyerno natin in the soonest possible time na makakuha tayo ng bakuna, lahat dapat mabakunahan in a short period of time," he added.

(The government really wants to vaccinate as much people at the soonest possible time.)

Solante, however, assured the public that the government target remains achieving herd immunity.

"Ang magiging target pa rin natin, eventually, kapag normal na ang supply ng bakuna, kapag marami na tayong bakuna natatanggap, ay itong herd immunity pa rin," Solante said.

(Our target, once there is steady stream of vaccine supply, is still herd immunity.)

Likewise, Solante called on the public to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available to them.

"...If we don't get vaccinated, cases of new coronavirus variants will increase and transmission will be more frequent," Solante added.

The Philippines' current population is around 110 million.

To date, the country has at least 17 million doses of vaccines.—LDF, GMA News