An infectious disease specialist in the country said the vaccination of at least 50% of senior citizens in the country will contribute in achieving population protection from COVID-19.
Dr. Edsel Salvana, Department of Health Technical Advisory Group (DOH-TAG) member, said senior citizens and those with comorbidities must be protected since COVID-19 is “10 to 15 times” deadlier than flu.
“Kung mapoprotektahan po natin itong seniors at itong may mga kapansanan, magmimistula na lamang po talagang trangkaso itong COVID-19 at puwede na po nating buksan, na iyong mga mamamatay will be minimized,” Salvana said in the May 28 Laging Handa briefing.
“Iyon ang tinatawag na population protection dahil protektado po natin iyong most vulnerable members of society. At iyong iba naman, hindi naman ganoon kataas iyong risk na mamatay sila, kaya pwede na po tayong mag-open,” he added.
He said senior citizens must be encouraged to get vaccinated since the group’s vaccination coverage is still less than 10%, noting that hesitancy may delay pandemic recovery.
Read more: EXPLAINER: Why senior citizens should get the jab
“Kailangan po talaga nating isulong itong pagbabakuna sa ating seniors. Kasi sa tingin ko, if we already vaccinate more than 50% of seniors, baka pwede na natin silang palabasin, even iyong mga bata,” he added.
The doctor said vaccinated individuals’ viral load in case they get infected with COVID-19 “is about four times lower than somebody who is not vaccinated.”
“Kung sakaling makahawa man sila dahil kaunti lang iyong virus na ipinapasa nila, malamang iyong nahawa nila [ay] mild rin iyong magiging infection,” he said, adding that there is “transmission blocking properties” of the vaccine.
“Kahit may makalusot, mas mababa ang risk of severe disease sa pasyente, at less risk iyong severe disease sa kanilang maaaring mahawa,” he said. – Report from Louisa Erispe/AG-rir
Watch the full interview with Dr. Edsel Salvana:
