DOH: 93.49% of COVID-19 deaths are among unvaccinated

The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated on Monday that deaths and serious outcomes are more likely to happen among unvaccinated individuals compared to those fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that out of the 216,074 total COVID-19 cases admitted in health facilities from March 1 to November 14, those who were not fully vaccinated represented 86%.

Among those who died of COVID-19, those who were not fully vaccinated represented 93.49%.

Vergeire said deaths are 2.6 times more likely among the unvaccinated, while severe and critical symptoms are 1.75 times more likely to occur among the unvaccinated compared to those fully vaccinated.

“Vaccination will be the key in continually reducing our deaths,” Vergeire said, noting that if more Filipinos get fully vaccinated, more opportunities will be at hand.

On Friday, Vergeire said the DOH has observed the plateauing of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the past week. However, they will still monitor this because the data in the prior week showed a slight uptick in the number of reported cases, but the number decreased after a few days.

The Philippines on Sunday reported an additional of 2,227 new COVID-19 cases and 175 new deaths, bringing the country's total death toll to 47,074.

Vergeire however explained in a radio interview on Monday that the increased number of COVID-19 deaths was a result of late reporting and some of these deaths occurred from August to October.

"Ito pong mga namamatay ay hindi lamang po nangyari ngayong Nobyembre. Ito po ay mga vina-validate kasi ng local governments at saka sinusumite sa national government,” she said.

(These death cases did not only happen in November because the local government units still need to validate the data and submit it to the national government thereafter.)

DOH data also showed that the country had death peaks in September, but the deaths moved to a downward trend since the start of October along with the decline of the COVID-19 cases.

“Nationally, the highest reported deaths was in September 2021 with 218 average deaths per day. October deaths were more than half at 125 deaths, while partial data for November reports 566 deaths or an average of 27 deaths per day with Region 1 reporting the highest number of deaths across all regions,” she said.

As the country reopens the economy and more people become mobile, Vergeire reminded the public that adherence to minimum public health standards such as proper wearing of face masks, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing or sanitizing are vital to slow down the spread of the virus.

“Let us also encourage our unvaccinated family members, neighbors, and co-workers to get vaccinated now that the COVID-19 vaccination program has expanded to the general population ages 12 and up,” she added. —KG/RSJ, GMA News