Reported COVID-19 cases increased by 8% last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, despite the significant reduction in COVID-19 testing in some countries.
In a media briefing this week, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries are facing “a different situation with different challenges,” and stressed that the world is not yet out of the woods.
“The pandemic is not over. We call on all countries to remain vigilant, continue to vaccinate, test, sequence, [and] provide early care for patients,” he said.
Among the countries facing resurgence of cases is Hong Kong, which is driven by the Omicron sublineage BA.2.2.
The Department of Health (DOH) said BA.2.2 has not yet been detected in the Philippines, while assuring that safeguards are in place.
“We are closely monitoring, and tulad ng sabi ng iba nating eksperto, I think the Philippines has been blessed dahil nauna po tayo doon sa BA.2 nitong Enero,” DOH USec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
In the March 18 DOH media briefing, infectious disease specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana mentioned hybrid immunity’s protection against the variant.
“Kung mayroon na tayong tinatawag na hybrid immunity, that’s when you have vaccination and you get mild breakthrough infection, protective ‘yan against BA.2.2,” he said.
“So even makapasok ‘yan dito, chances are, ‘di na ‘yan magdudulot ng kasing laking spike dahil mayroon na tayong exposure dito,” he added.
Vaccination
The DOH continued its call to the public to get vaccinated, saying that eight out of 10 hospitalized individuals are not vaccinated. It added that being boosted reduces the risk of hospitalization due to Omicron by 81%.
Meanwhile, the president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians expressed support for the recommendation to give second booster shots to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.
“Ang fourth dose of the same mRNA [messenger RNA] platform will offer 30% more protection against the infection, on top of the three doses na ibinigay,” Dr. Imelda Mateo said.
Government data show that 97% of the 1.8 million target jabs in the fourth Bayanihan, Bakunahan event have been met. In total, about 72% of the target population nationwide have already been fully vaccinated, while almost 78% have received at least one dose. – Report from Mark Fetalco/AG-rir
