By Civ Alonzo-Cruz
The National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) revealed that the National Capital Region (NCR) and other targeted areas in the country have surpassed the 90% fully vaccinated rate and now attained the herd immunity threshold.
NTF Adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa shared the news in the Dec. 10 Laging Handa briefing, stating that fully inoculated Filipinos in NCR are now more than 90% and first dose rate is now over 100%.
“Na-attain na natin ang herd immunity sa ilang specific areas or focus areas na ating na-target. Sa NCR, nakalagpas na tayo sa 90% fully vaccinated rate, at over 100% naman ang mga nakakuha ng first dose. Naabot na natin ang tinatawag naming herd immunity threshold sa NCR,” he said.
While NCR and some specific areas are now beyond the target herd immunity level, the rest of the country is also nearing that goal. NTF and the Department of Health (DOH) are now looking forward to reaching the total herd immunity threshold of the country between the first and second quarter of 2022.
“Ang national average rate ng fully vaccinated ay 42% at ang average rate naman ng first dose ay 74%. Marami pa tayong ibang lugar sa bansa na nasa 40% pa lang ang fully vaccinated rate,” Dr. Herbosa said.
“Sabi nga ni DOH Usec. Vega, may ilang ospital o lugar sa bansa na zero new COVID cases na. Technically, nangyayari na ‘yan [herd immunity threshold] kasi tumaas ang mobility natin at walang bagong COVID cases na dumarating,” he added.
Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega also shared in the Laging Handa briefing that the COVID-related calls from the DOH One Hospital Command are now dwindling. He also said that hospitals nationwide are now having zero admission of COVID-related cases in the previous days.
“Ngayong December, bumababa na kami sa 76-86 calls a day. Patunay na ang new cases ng COVID-19 ay talagang bumababa na,” USec. Vega said.
“Out of 158 hospitals na nandito sa Metro Manila, 62 dito ay wala nang COVID-19 admission for the last 5 days. 39% ‘yan ng Metro Manila, ayon sa data namin mula sa One Hospital Command,” he said.
“Ang mga hospital sa Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, at Davao Region ay mataas ang non-COVID-19 report, sa 61-62%,” USec. Vega added.
In spite of the good vaccination rates and declining number of COVID-19 hospitalization rates, Dr. Herbosa reminded everyone to not be too complacent and continue to follow the standard health guidelines because of the threat of the Omicron variant in the country.
“Kailangang maging maingat pa rin tayo. Ang Omicron ay naitalang mild lamang sa mga bata at walang comorbidity. Maaari pa rin itong makamatay sa mga taong may comorbidity, senior citizens, at sa mga taong immunocompromised,” Dr. Herbosa said.
He also encouraged everyone to participate in the next round of the Bayanihan Bakunahan program of the government to protect ourselves from hospitalization.
“Habang mababa ang kaso ng COVID-19 cases sa ating bansa, mas paigtingin natin ang pagbabakuna. Sana ang mga nag-aatubiling magpabakuna ay magpabakuna na. Ito lang ang ating dagdag proteksyon laban sa virus,” he said.
The next round of the national vaccination program of the government is scheduled on Dec.15-17. -rir
