Senators urge immediate gov't action on COVID variant
Senators have called for the immediate and proper action from the government to prevent the spread of the more contagious COVID-19 variant that has been detected in the Philippines.
Sen. Grace Poe said Thursday members of Congress have ensured that there will be funds under the P4.5-trillion 2021 national budget for sustained contact tracing and purchase of necessary equipment, as well as vaccines, to address the threat of the new COVID-19 variant that was first discovered in the United Kingdom.
The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed Wednesday that the UK variant, called "B.1.1.7," has reached the country thru a resident of Quezon City who recently arrived from a business trip to the United Arab Emirates.
The State health agency said it is now looking for the other passengers of the flight taken by the infected Filipino.
"Unlike last year, the DoH should be better prepared to stop the spread of the UK COVID-19 variant," Poe said.
"We will be watching. No excuses this time. The DoH must act immediately and effectively to prevent another lockdown," she added.
She also said that current safety measures should not be relaxed, calling on the public to remain cautious.
"The potential impact of this variant will burden our already stressed health facilities and the economy. But more than the economic repercussions, we cannot afford another surge of the coronavirus, which has already claimed the lives of too many of our friends, family, and colleagues," Poe said.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the arrival of the UK variant should prompt the government not to settle for vaccines that show low efficacy in preventing COVID-19.
"The more reason that we must get the most effective vaccines for our people at hindi sapat ‘yung 50 percent efficacy rate lamang (and a 50 percent efficacy is not enough)," Zubiri told reporters in a message.
The Senate leader was apparently referring to Sinovac, which, according to reports, yielded a 50.4 percent effectiveness in a clinical trial in Brazil. The Philippine government has secured 25 million doses of the Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine, with an initial 50,000 doses to be delivered to the country next month.
"Napakababa niyan (That's too low), so there is still a 50-50 chance that you will get it. In other words, one of two people inoculated with Sinovac may still get coronavirus. So hindi maganda yung mga figures na 'yan (Those figures are not good)," Zubiri said in a separate interview with ABS-CBN News Channel Thursday.
He also appealed to authorities to "let the science guide us in our decision to buy the safest, high efficacy, cost-effective, and easy (to) roll out vaccines for our people."