9 out of 10 ICU patients in Philippine hospitals unvaccinated —NTF adviser

Majority of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals nationwide are not vaccinated against COVID-19 as the government aims to continue the inoculation program amid strict lockdowns, Dr. Ted Herbosa, special adviser of the National Task Force against COVID-19, said Sunday.

This as the national government was able to fully vaccinate over 10.28 million Filipinos as of August 5, but it is still far off its target for herd immunity. 

"Mga taong infected sa ICU, nine out of 10 hindi vaccinated. 'Yung may bakuna, mild lang, may sipon lang. Hindi nila kailangan ma-ospital, doon lang sila sa isolation facilities," Herbosa said over Dobol B TV.

(Of the infected people in ICU, 9 out of 10 are not vaccinated. Those who have COVID-19 jabs only exhibited mild symptoms like colds. They do not need to be hospitalized; they will just stay in isolation facilities.)

Herbosa also reiterated the goal of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to vaccinate 50% of the population in Metro Manila, the center of the country's economy, even as the region is currently under strict lockdown or enhanced community quarantine for two weeks, from August 6 to 20.

Meanwhile, Herbosa advised senior citizens and people with comorbidities to get vaccinated against the coronavirus disease during ECQ.

With the lockdown imposed to suppress further surge, the Philippines reported a record-high 11,021 new infections on Saturday. This brought total cases to 1,649,341, including 1,544,443 recoveries and 28,835 deaths. —KG, GMA News