THE CITY COVID-19 Task Force is not taking lightly the 380 COVID-19-related deaths, recorded from Jan. 1 to Nov. 5.
During the COVID-19 Alert program of the 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said their focus is providing an extra layer of protection to Davaoeños through the anti-COVID-19 primary two-dose series and booster shots.
She said the COVID-19 vaccine may not promise anyone total immunity against the disease amid the relaxed health protocols but it guarantees protection from getting critical to severe symptoms of the virus that may result in death.
“Unfortunately, this week gamay ang cases pero naa’y unom nga namatay. Ang atoa untang goal, ang atoang future aspirations unta sa umaabot na adlaw, wala na’y mamatay sa COVID-19 kay naa naman ta’y bakuna and it is available everywhere sa atong barangay, purok, ug distrito, gihatag na ang mga areas where available ang vaccines (Unfortunately, this week we may have a few active cases but we have six deaths. Our goal and future aspirations in the coming days is to have zero COVID-19 death since we already have the vaccines and they are available in our barangays, puroks, and districts, and we have provided the areas where the vaccines are available),” Schlosser said.
She said that of the recent six deaths, three were senior citizens aged 60 years old and above, one from the 50 to 59 population age group, and one each from the 20 to 29 and 30 to 30 age brackets.
Two of the six COVID-19 deaths were unvaccinated and four were vaccinated but never had any booster dose.
The city health official said the death demographics are significant, citing other primary vaccines that also have boosters.
She added, “Same concept sa atong COVID-19 vaccine, mag-wane ang efficacy.
Kung ma-infect man ka, dako ang tsansa nga makakuha gihapon ka og severe and critical type of COVID-19 kay nag-wane ang efficacy. Nikunhod ang epekto sa bakuna mao nga kinahanglan ta og booster aron magpabilin nga strong ang efficacy sa bakuna sa atong kalawasan (It’s the same concept with the COVID-19 vaccine, the efficacy wanes. When you get infected, there’s a great chance for you to get the severe to critical type of COVID-19 due to the waning efficacy. The effect of the vaccine has decreased so we need a booster to keep the efficacy of the vaccine strong in our body).”
Of the 380 COVID-19 deaths as of Nov. 5, 2022, Schlosser said the highest number of deaths were from the 60 to 69 age group, and the rest were from the 70 to 79, 80 to 89, zero to nine, 10 to 19, and 20 to 20 population age groups.
She reiterated that being young, presumed to be in prime health, is not a guarantee for survival when hit by a severe to a critical type of COVID-19 as even last week children aged five to 11 years old and 12 to 17 also succumbed to the disease.
“There are still people dying because of COVID-19. Habang naa pa’y mamatay sa COVID 19 problem gud na sya. Let’s avoid COVID-19 death, get vaccines and booster doses,” she said.
School-based vaccinations are being held every Friday to cater to students who are attending in-person classes but Schlosser said they would need the consent of the parents and guardians.
Weekend vaccinations are still happening all Saturdays and Sundays until December 2022 at the People’s Park from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. while barangay and district health center vaccinations are set during weekdays.
Mobile vaccination teams are also being deployed to bring the services closer to the barangays.
