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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Health expert: Fully vaccinated senior citizens should not go out yet

Health expert: Fully vaccinated senior citizens should not go out yet

Published May 26, 2021 04:26 pm

Citing the Philippines' low inoculation rate, a health expert on Wednesday, May 26, said fully vaccinated senior citizens should still stay home "and be more patient."

A vaccinator from the Manila Health Department Office inoculates a Sinovac vaccine against COVID-19 to a senior citizen inside her house in Batangas Street, Tondo Manila during a house-to-house vaccination (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)

In an interview with Teleradyo, Dr. Maricar Limpin, vice president of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) said she is against easing restrictions for fully vaccinated senior citizens.

"Ang baba pa ng vaccination rate natin. Konti pa lang po yung nabakunahan natin. Therefore, at this point in time, senior citizen man yan o nasa 40s, I think hindi pa rin tayo dapat basta-basta dapat magluwag doon sa mga restriction natin (Our vaccination rate is still low. We only have a few vaccinated. Therefore, at this point in time, whether it's a senior citizen or someone in their 40s, I think we should not yet relax our restrictions)," Limpin stressed.

The physician said fully vaccinated senior citizens should wait before the national government has already inoculated 70 percent of the country's population.

"Maghintay lang ho muna sila sa bahay. Maghintay po muna tayo ng tamang time para yung full effect ng bakuna ay ma-achieve po ng tao. Kahit na bakunado ka you can be transmitting the virus sa mga kababayan natin (Let just wait at home first. Let's wait for the right time so that the full effect of the vaccines can be achieved. Even if you're already vaccinated, you can still transmit the virus to other people)," Limpin noted.

"Hindi pa nga natin naaabot ang (We still haven't achieved) heard immunity and here we are talking about allowing people to go out," she added.

Limpin also reminded those fully vaccinated against the virus to continue observing minimum health protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields, maintaining physical distance, and washing of hands.

As of May 25, 4,495,375 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

Of the figure, 3,466,314 Filipinos received their first dose so far; while 1,029,061 got their second dose already.

On Wednesday, National Task Force Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said herd immunity in the National Capital Region (NCR) is "possible" before Christmas.

Related Tags

Philippine College of Physicians covid-19 covid-19 vaccine
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