Fully vaccinated seniors encouraged to still limit themselves from going to public places


A senior citizen receives the second dose of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine while other people wait for their turn at a vaccination site in Sampaloc, Manila on May 25, 2021.(Ali Vicoy/Manila Bulletin)

Senior citizens who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) should still limit themselves from going outside of their residences, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said.

“Iyong bakuna naman talaga maka-prevent ng hospitalization and death ano pero puwede ka pa ring magkaroon ng COVID-19 (The vaccines can actually prevent hospitalization and death, but you can still catch COVID-19),” said DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega on Wednesday, June 16.

“So, kailangan, lalo na kung vulnerable ho kayo, dapat eh huwag munang magsilabas lalo na ang mga seniors kasi ang population ho natin kakaunti pa iyong nabakunahan (So, it's necessary, especially if you are vulnerable, that you should refrain from going out, especially the seniors ---because only few people among our population have been vaccinated yet),” he added.

When outdoors, Vega reminded fully vaccinated senior citizens to still adhere to the minimum public health standards.

“Puwede silang lumabas, as long as they (practice) minimum public health standards---iwasan po nila iyong mga crowd gatherings (They can go out, as long as they (practice) minimum public health standards --- they should avoid also crowd gatherings),” he said.

Last June 11, the government's COVID-19 pandemic task force has now allowed fully vaccinated senior citizens in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) and modified GCQ to step out of their homes.