Experts see need to increase herd immunity target amid Delta variant threat

Two members of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) on Thursday said there is a need to raise the country’s 70% target for herd immunity from COVID-19 amid the threat of the highly contagious Delta variant.

“We need to aim higher and do it faster. ‘Yung dati nating 60%, 70% [target], baka [maging] 85%, 99% ‘yan because of this. This Delta variant is a real concern,” VEP head Dr. Nina Gloriani said in a Department of Health (DOH) forum.

“For us to get a better immunity at the population level, siguro pataasan natin 'yung (maybe we should increase our) target in a scenario na meron na tayong (where we have the) Delta variant,” VEP member Dr. Rontgene Solante added.

Currently, the government aims to vaccinate some 70 million Filipinos out of the country’s 109-million population.

Last week, the DOH confirmed local transmission of the more transmissible Delta variant.

Solante said it was important to determine what percentage of COVID-19 cases have the Delta variant in order to readjust the herd immunity target.

“This is the experience with US, with UK, wherein they now want 100% vaccination of all the population because of the variant,” he explained.

Gloriani likewise said the goal should be to vaccinate “100%” of the population.

Despite this recommendation, she said health workers and the elderly will continue to be prioritized in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines over children and adolescents.

The Philippines has inoculated over 11 million people as of July 25, some 6 million of whom have been fully vaccinated.

The country has so far recorded 119 Delta variant cases, 16 of which remain active.—AOL, GMA News