PHAPi exec backs COVID-19 booster requirement for full vaccination

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPi) on Thursday expressed support for the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to require the first COVID-19 booster dose before an individual could be deemed fully vaccinated against the viral disease.

At a Laging Handa briefing, PHAPi president Dr. Jose de Grano explained that booster shots are necessary as the immunity of those who received their primary vaccine series may have waned already.

“Talagang kailangang ibo-boost natin ‘yung previous vaccines natin. Palagay ko dapat ‘pag fully vaccinated ka, kailangan meron kang at least isang booster dose,” he said.

(We really need to boost our previous vaccines. I think when you’re fully vaccinated, you need to have at least one booster dose.)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has reportedly agreed with the DOH’s recommendation so as to raise the level of protection of the public against COVID-19 and to prepare for the resumption of the 100% face-to-face classes in schools by November.

De Grano also reminded the public that the Omicron COVID-19 variant remains to be “highly contagious” even though the infected only show mild or moderate symptoms.

Marcos on Tuesday likened Omicron to a flu, saying it may be “a little contagious but [it] does not hit as hard” as other variants. The DOH said this is supported by data.

The agency noted that only 3.09% of Omicron cases recorded in the country from December 2021 to February 2022 were in severe or critical condition.

Should the COVID-19 cases in the country continue to increase, De Grano said that hospitals are ready to accommodate patients who will be admitted as long as there will be enough healthcare workers. 

“Ang ating mga ospital laging prepared ‘yan at ang mga COVID areas, hindi naman sinarhan ‘yan. Laging nakahanda ‘yan kung sakaling may kailangang i-admit,” he said.

“Kapag dumating ang point na talagang sobrang dami kung sakali man, ay kukuha tayo ng mga healthcare workers natin do’n sa non-COVID areas. Ang pinaka-limitasyon lang natin ay kung kulang ang mga healthcare workers,” he added, pointing out that the situation in hospitals remain manageable so far.

(Our hospitals are always prepared for that possibility and the COVID areas were not closed. They are ready in case someone needs to be admitted. If it comes to a point where there are too many cases, we will tap our healthcare workers from the non-COVID areas. Our only limitation may be if there is a shortage of healthcare workers.)

Dengue

Further, De Grano also acknowledged the rising dengue cases in the country which he attributed to the rainy season and the shift of the people’s focus to combating COVID-19 and other diseases.

He thus called on the local government units to work on cleaning places where mosquitoes usually breed.

“Although meron pa ring nadi-disgrasya, ang mga kaso ng dengue ngayon hindi na katulad nung dati na talagang grabe. At saka ‘yung tinatamaan right now, nakikita natin, ‘yung mga younger population ‘yung below 12 o ganon na mga bata,” he said.

(Although there are still casualties, dengue cases today are not as severe as they used to be. The ones being affected now are the younger population or those aged 12 and below.)

In its latest dengue report, DOH said that the National Capital Region (NCR) alone recorded 533 dengue cases from May 22 to June 4, 2022, a 16% increase compared to the cases reported from May 8 to May 21, 2022 with 458 cases.

The whole country, on the other hand, logged 51,622 cases of dengue from January 1 to June 18, which was 58% higher compared to cases reported during the same period last year at 32,610. —KBK, GMA News