People who received the coronavirus vaccines are considered "spared" from the disease but must still observe health precautions, according to a Palace official.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said vaccinated persons, especially those who just had the first shot, still need to wear a mask and keep a safe distance from others, even as the vaccines provided some protection from the illness.
"Tingin ko po na lahat po ng nabakunahan (I think all those vaccinated) are individuals spared from the disease," Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday, April 7.
"Pero ang ating warning po ‘no lalo na doon sa mga first shot pa lang eh hindi po kaagad nagkakaroon ng epekto iyan ‘no, it takes weeks bago makaepekto po iyan so patuloy pa rin po ang mask, hugas, iwas (But our warning to those who received the first shot, it does not take effect immediately. It takes weeks before it takes effect so continue to wear a mask, wash hands, and practice physical distancing)," he said.
Roque maintained that there was still no room for complacency even for those vaccinated. Health authorities earlier claimed that vaccination was important to protect people from getting severe coronavirus disease.
"Huwag po tayong magpapabaya bagama’t tayo po ay nabakunahan na (Let's not be neglectful even though we have been vaccinated)," he said.
Since the arrival of the initial batch of vaccines in the country, the government has launched its free immunization drive in early March. Health workers, seniors and those with comorbidity or existing health ailments have been a priority in the vaccination line.
Based on the report of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., 826,607 Filipinos have been vaccinated so far. Of this figure, 783,085 health workers got their free inoculations. The government aims to inoculate 70 million Filipinos before the end of the year.
The country earlier received 2.5 million doses of vaccines, including 1 million Sinovac doses purchased by the government, 1 million donated by China, and 525,600 AstraZeneca doses from the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility.
Galvez said the country can expect the arrival of 2 million more vaccine doses, including 1.5 million from Sinovac and 500,000 from Gamaleya, this month. Barring last-minute changes in the supply chain, an additional 4.1 million vaccine doses are expected to be delivered in May, 10.5 million in June, and 13.5 million in July.