COVID-19 vaccines working? Rise in asymptomatic cases has DOH checking data

The number of COVID-19 cases who have no symptoms is on the rise and the Department of Health is looking into whether or not the increase is already the result of the country's vaccination drive.

The proportion of asymptomatic cases used to be in the single digits, but it has recently increased to double digits, based on the DOH's daily bulletins.

Of the number of active cases on September 29, 76.6% were mild, 16.4% asymptomatic, 0.9% critical, 2.1% severe and 3.91% moderate.

Asymptomatic cases made up only 1.6% of active cases on August 31.

“Nakita naman natin iyan na mas tumaas nang husto itong asymptomatic cases natin. Pinag-aaralan natin ‘yan ngayon,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online briefing.

[We have observed that the number of asymptomatic cases has increased significantly. We are looking into it.]

“We would like to also see if [the different testing methods] have an effect on this increasing number of mild and asymptomatic [cases], but our number one assumption would be the vaccines are working for all of us," Vergeire said.

"But again evidence should be there, so we are now analyzing,” she added.

Studies show vaccines lower the risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Vaccines, however, may not be able to completely stop infections.

The number of fully vaccinated Filipinos stood at 20.58 million as of September 28, representing 26.68% of the eligible population (77.1 million). The target population does not include minors. -NB, GMA News