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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Vaccination needed to prevent death among vulnerable sectors -- expert

Vaccination needed to prevent death among vulnerable sectors -- expert

Published Apr 6, 2021 12:02 pm

An infectious disease expert has underscored the importance of inoculating those in the vulnerable sectors, not just to protect them from getting infected with coronavirus, but also to prevent them from dying.

(Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP / FILE PHOTO)

Dr. Rontgene Solante, chief of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of San Lazaro Hospital, said the Department of Health (DOH) has issued a mandate to enhance the vaccination drive in areas with a higher number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.

The government has been conducting vaccination of those most at risk in the virus such as healthcare workers, senior citizens, and those with comorbidity.

“The impact of COVID-19 vaccines in protecting these people in terms of developing the COVID is not just because we will prevent them from getting the infection,” said Solante during a virtual press briefing of DOH on Tuesday, April 6. 

“The main bottom line here is preventing them from dying,” Solante, who is also a member of the country’s vaccine panel, added.

Solante said some of the vaccines have been rolled out already in areas within the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble, which were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

He believes that the vaccination is a way of decreasing the rate of transmission in the community, and with the decreased transmission, also protect those vulnerable to the virus.

Solante said that many of the patients admitted for COVID-19 are those with ages 60 years old and above and those with comorbidity,

“Ang taas talaga ng mortalities nila (There mortalities are really high) and in fact it’s like a 50-50 chance that if they develop critical, 50 percent chance that they will live or 50 percent they will die because in itself the presence of these comorbidity and mortalities will really be a difference from survival and death,” he said. 

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