THE COVID-19 Task Force said Davaoeños should get their primary two-dose vaccine and booster shots to protect themselves from getting a severe or critical type of the disease, regardless of whether or not Omicron variants XBB and XBC have entered Davao City.
In her Davao City Disaster Radio program on Oct. 21, task force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said, “COVID-19 is here to stay. Di ta pwede magpakabuta-bungol naa pa man (We can’t be blind and deaf because it is still very much around), we just have to live with COVID-19 and protect ourselves from the severity of the disease. The only way without fear of dying of Covid is to get doses and boosters.”
niShe said it’s inevitable to contract the disease since economic, social, and educational activities have already resumed, which enabled more face-to-face gatherings, limited face mask use (in enclosed areas, public transportation, hospitals, and outdoor crowded areas), and frequent handwashing as the minimum public health standards (MPHS).
Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergiere earlier reported that the Davao Region is among the regions with detected Omicron XBB cases. But Schlosser said they are still awaiting word from DOH Davao about it.
Schlosser said, “Natural ways of the virus mag-mutate gyud na sya. It’s a matter of time muabot sa atong tugkaran. Natala na record nila, for all we know naa na ta’y different variants diri. Dili na ta matingala muabot sa atong tugkaran sa atong balay (It’s the nature of the virus to mutate. It’s a matter of time before it reaches our households. With the number that DOH recorded, for all we know, we already have different variants here. We should no longer be surprised if the new variants reach our homes). Let’s protect ourselves from getting the severe and critical type of COVID-19. Get the vaccines and avail of our booster doses.”
The city health official said new variants are more highly transmissible but are easily resolved. But the main concern is when it hits an unvaccinated or unboosted fully-dosed immunocompromised individual or someone with autoimmune as it may result in death.
“Pag bag-ong variant mas transferrable gyud sya (New variants are more transferrable). Bakuna works in different variants of COVID-19. Protect yourself. Have your vaccine, get your booster shots,” she added.
She also urged Davaoeños to take precautionary measures now that usual activities are back to pre-pandemic. “If you can do social distancing, why not? Still wear your face masks even if it’s voluntary (in open and uncrowded areas). Your face mask is a layer of protection for you,” Schlosser said.
Weekend vaccinations, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at People’s Park, are also extended until December.
