The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force urged Dabawenyos to get themselves vaccinated and boostered first when planning to attend mass gatherings that may become super spreaders, such as campaign rallies, to ensure their protection from the risk of the severity of the coronavirus disease that may lead to death.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said there is a high risk of transmission in mass gatherings, not just in campaign rallies but also in other family, social, and work-related events.
“Mas maayo fully vaccinated and boostered mo so that you will have a layer of protection against the severity of the disease. Kung di mapigilan ang transmission whether we like it or not, we can prevent the severity of the disease, and further, we can prevent deaths (It is better that you are fully vaccinated and boostered so you will have a layer of protection against the severity of the disease. If the transmission can’t be prevented, whether we like it or not, we can at least prevent the severity of the disease and further we prevent deaths),” she said during the COVID-19 Alert on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
The city health official said the risk of transmission is also high for attendees in events if they don’t abide by the minimum public health standards (MPHS) of wearing face masks. She said that even though social distancing was already lifted under Executive Order (EO) No. 11, Series of 2022, the mandatory wearing of face masks was retained since it helps prevent transmission while the vaccination and booster shot help people from contracting severe symptoms of the disease.
“Ma-prevent ang risgo sa spread and transmission if we continue to wear our face masks and also have yourself vaccinated (The risk of spread and transmission can be prevented if we continue to wear our face masks and have yourselves vaccinated. Protect yourself from the severity of the disease),” Dr. Schlosser said, adding that the Safety and Security personnel continue to make rounds in public areas and issue citation tickets to those caught not wearing their face masks properly.
She said that they are intensifying the vaccination and booster rollout campaign since all establishments and offices are now fully operational and back to their full capacity amid the city’s Alert Level 1 status.
Dr. Schlosser also commended the 1,292,684 fully vaccinated Dabawenyos as of March 26, 2022 but she also said, “Kinahanglan gyud og booster ang isa ka vaccine because it will add layer of protection and increase ang inyong immunity, mao na’y tumong sa booster dose. It’s not enough na fully vaccinated lang ka (A booster dose is important for a vaccine because it will add a layer of protection and increase your immunity, that’s the purpose of a booster dose. It’s not enough that you are just fully vaccinated).”
She also said that the City Government of Davao has opened a lot of vaccination sites for walk-ins, and house-to-house mobile vaccinations and drive-thru vaccinations are also available. CIO
