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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Expert urges gov't anew to 'step up' PH's Covid-19 vaccination, booster programs

Expert urges gov't anew to 'step up' PH's Covid-19 vaccination, booster programs

Published Mar 27, 2022 02:26 pm

A health expert once again urged the national government to “step up” the country’s vaccination program against Covid-19, reiterating that vaccination plays an important role in ensuring safety against the disease.

Health reform advocate and former special adviser of the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon, in a Facebook post, said that the country should revisit its plans and hasten its Covid-19 vaccination and booster programs.

(Ali Vicoy / Manila Bulletin File Photo)

“The government should step up the vaccination and booster programs . We have seen the surges in Europe, China, South Korea, Hong Kong . Remember the full vaccination is three doses according to the (CDC),” said Leachon on Saturday, March 26.

Studies also show that waning immunity may take place four months after the inoculation. This, according to Leachon, may cause a “possible resurgence” of infections.

Resurgence of Covid-19 infections is not a foreign phenomenon during the pandemic as it was already observed in several countries across the globe.

Meanwhile, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the country continues to decline, several Philippine institutions have expressed their plans to eventually conduct in-person classes in 2022.

“Face to face classes are dependent on full primary vaccination. We should revisit our plans to hasten the vaccination program. The pandemic is not over, we should not be complacent,” Leachon added.

The Department of Health’s (DOH) National Covid-19 Vaccination Dashboard showed that as of March 9, 2022, a total of 63,992,620 individuals in the Philippines have received two doses of the vaccine, while only 10,675,663 Filipinos have so far received their booster shots.

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BOOSTER covid-19 vaccination Vaccination Program pandemic Dr. Tony Leachon
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