A doctor on Sunday, August 1, urged the public to get vaccinated with any vaccine brand available during the two-week lockdown in Metro Manila amid the threat of the Delta variant.
"Para sa mga nagdadalawang-isip sa bakuna: Kailangang magpabakuna ngayon na kahit anong brand hanggang bago matapos ang (For those who are hesitant to get vaccinated: Please get vaccinated with any brand available before ECQ ends)," Dr. Winlove Mojica said in a tweet.
"Kumakalat ang Delta variant. Nakakatakot ang projections. Malaki ang potential talaga na umapaw ang mga tao sa mga ospital (The Delta variant is spreading. The projections are scary. There's a potential that our hospitals will be overwhelmed again)," he added.
Mojica also advised the public to avoid non-essential travels even after the ECQ has been lifted.
"Goal ng ECQ na pabagalin sa pinakamabagal na rate ng pagkalat ng Delta (The goal of ECQ is to slow the transmission of the Delta variant). Pero hindi (But not) zero Delta (well, sana) (hoping). So, there is still a problem after ECQ," he added.
Once the ECQ has been lifted, unvaccinated individuals have "higher chance" of being hospitalized, Mojica continued, and since the hospitals are already full by then, they have a "higher chance of dying."
"Magpabakuna ka. Libre yung bakuna. Kunin mo. Kung gusto mo ng specific brand, baka hindi mo na abutin dahil sa Delta. Tsaka ka na magpabakuna ng ibang brand pag pwede na itong bilhin individually (Get vaccinated. Vaccines are free. Get them. If you still want to wait for a specific brand, you may not be able to get it because of Delta. You can get vaccinated by a specific brand when it can be bought individually," he reiterated.
Metro Manila has been placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20.