THE CITY COVID-19 Task Force urged Davaoeños to avoid waiting for the anticipated surge in May or June before getting themselves vaccinated and “boostered” as soon as possible.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said: “We are actually anticipating another surge pero before sana muabot na sya, dapat boostered na ta tanan so that we will be secured kung naa man sa atong tugkaran ang virus, kana nga variant (We are actually anticipating another surge but before that happens, we must all get boostered so that we can be secure even if the COVID-19 virus or a new variant reaches us).”
She said that with the city’s Alert Level 1 status, under which only the mandatory wearing of face masks and frequent handwashing have remained as part of the minimum public health standards (MPHS), the more people need to protect themselves from being infected with the coronavirus.
“We already have an open policy kay tanan-tanan maka move na ta pre-pandemic. Ang atoang number of people sa isa ka establishment wala na’y social distancing. If muabot man nang ginatawag na variant na posible maka-surge, at least protected ta from the severity of the disease (We already have an open policy since we all can move just like during pre-pandemic. The number of people in establishments no longer observe social distancing. If the new variant comes that would possibly cause a surge, at least we are protected from the severity of the disease),” Dr. Schlosser said during the COVID-19 Alert program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday, March 23.
Those who are fully vaccinated or received the booster would either be a mild case or asymptomatic when they do get infected.
The health official also said that since the city government strives to balance health and economic recovery with the fully operational and full capacity offices and establishments, receiving booster jabs for added protection is vital.
She reiterated, “Before mag-surge, please take the opportunity to have yourselves boostered. Before nangita mo og Pfizer, karon pwede namo liguan og Pfizer kay daghgan na kaayo’g Pfizer. Tong una, nangita mo og Sinovac, karon pwede namo banlawan og Sinovac. We have more than enough vaccine gyud karon, ang atoa lang gyud is willingness and cooperation of all the people here in Davao City (Before the surge, please take the opportunity to have yourselves boostered. Before, you wanted Pfizer, now you can even bathe with Pfizer because we have a lot of it. You were looking for Sinovac, now you can get rinsed with Sinovac. We have more than enough vaccine now, what’s needed is the willingness and cooperation of all people in Davao City).”
As of March 18, 2020, at least 224,430 or 17.42 percent of the 1,288,606 fully vaccinated Dabawenyos received their first booster jabs, which Dr. Schlosser underscored as a very low turnout.
She said most of those who availed of their second doses and boosters did so during the last surge that the city experienced. She reminded them not to wait for another surge to get their boosters considering that they can do so through the drive-thru, walk-in, or mobile vaccinations.
The Crocodile Park and People’s Park vaccination hubs expanded their operations until Saturdays to cater to those who work during weekdays.
“Boosters will give us 25-fold immunity against COVID-19 and protect us against the severity of the disease. Ang atong tumong karon, kung ma-infect man, dili maiwasan na mainfect, at least bakunado ug na booster sila aron naa sila’y protection against the serverity of the disease. Ma-avoid ang death through the vaccine (Boosters will give us 25-fold immunity against COVID-19 and protect us against the severity of the disease. Our goal is that when they do get infected as it is inevitable, at least they are vaccinated and got boostered, they have protection against the severity of the disease. Death can be prevented through the vaccine),” she added.
