Filipinos are “a little bit safe” against new coronavirus variants such as the more easily transmissible Delta variant because of the efficacy of the available vaccines in the country, President Duterte said.
During his pre-recorded public address on Monday night, the Chief Executive had a discussion with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Dr. Eric Domingo about the efficacy of the existing vaccine brands in the country against the new variants of COVID-19.
“It seems that we are a little bit safe, not really totally safe, but I said it is very consoling to hear from you that the present vaccine we are using are as effective,” Duterte said.
“Although not to its full degree, but rather, could give us a minimum of comfort that there is available vaccine and it can be used against the variants,” he added.
The President noted that it was “very consoling” to hear from Domingo that the country has “a fighting chance against the variants of which people are really scared.”
Domingo said the vaccines are effective against four variants of concern identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). These are the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.
READ: Keeping an eye on COVID-19 variants in PH
Most of the vaccines will have a 10 percent to 20 percent reduction rate on its efficacy, but the FDA chief maintained that even with the reduced efficacy rate, the vaccines will still be effective against severe COVID-19 symptoms and even hospitalization.
The Philippines currently has China-made Sinovac, British drugmaker’s Astrazeneca, and Moderna, Pfizer, and Janssen from the United States in its vaccine supply.
At present, the government administered 13 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the public, mostly health workers, seniors, people with comorbidity, and essential workers.
So far, it has inoculated 9,669,940 first doses (8.8 percent) and 3,526,342 second doses (3.2 percent) since the vaccination program started last March.
With the current pace, the country will achieve herd immunity or the vaccination of 70 million of the population in February 2023.