Vaccine expert: Emergence of Delta variant should not change herd immunity target

The emergence of local cases of the more transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus in the Philippines should not change the ultimate target of vaccinating 70% of the population by the end of the year, vaccine expert Dr. Rontgene Solante said Tuesday.

"The presence of Delta variant is not really a big factor [to make changes on the target]. We should still have the same target of vaccinating 70% of our population by the end of the year, especially those in high-risk population," Solante said during the Laging Handa briefing.

The Department of Health said there are eight active Delta variant cases

The country has an estimated 109 million population.

Solante renewed his call to the public to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the community from COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

"The Delta variant will not significantly affect the efficacy rate of the vaccines available in the country," he said.

The available COVID-19 vaccine brands in the country include Sinovac, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sputnik V and AstraZeneca. More than half of the 27 million doses are Chinese vaccine Sinovac.

Solante, in the same briefing, also said there is no need for a booster shot just yet since further observation are still being conducted if significant breakthrough infections will occur among fully vaccinated individuals.

In addition, Solante said he agrees with prohibiting minors from going outside amid the presence of Delta variant, given that there are no COVID-19 vaccine for children yet.

"The children, if allowed outside, could transmit the virus especially when they live with elderly relatives," he said. —KBK, GMA News