The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force said the 101 percent fully vaccinated Dabawenyos, who received the primary two-dose series against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was the reason for the decline in active COVID-19 cases and deaths.
This is also why no barangay had been placed under moderate risk, or high-risk classification this week.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said, “Naa ta tanan sa low risk, pati bed utilization nato 21 percent lang. Naa ta sa low-risk classification, wala’y nabutang sa critical o moderate gamay ra gyud atong cases karon (We are all at low risk, even our bed utilization is only 21 percent. We are in low-risk classification, no one is placed in critical or moderate, we have very few cases now).”
She said surpassing the target population vaccination range helped lower the city’s COVID-19 cases and deaths.
The Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-11) recently awarded Davao City for achieving 100-percent primary vaccination coverage against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a feat that only the city has achieved among other local government units (LGUs).
From December 11 to 17, Davao City logged 84 new active COVID-19 cases, a drop from the previous week’s 106 total.
“With 190 cases for the past 14 days, that’s actually quite low. The positivity rate is between three to four percent. That’s very acceptable,” the city health official said during the COVID-19 Alert program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired Wednesday, December 21.
Of the currently active cases, one is in critical condition, four are moderates, and one is severe. These types of COVID-19 cases, according to her, are the pathways to death if patients fail to get vaccinated or have not availed of their booster shots.
Schlosser said that even if infected with COVID-19, fully boostered individuals have a better chance of fighting against the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
She said Davao City recorded four COVID-19 deaths from December 11 to 17. Two of these were unvaccinated, while the other two deaths were vaccinated but without booster shots.
While the number of COVID-19 deaths also decreased, she said it’s still a matter of concern.
Schlosser added, “Hangyo nato sa katawhan, avail nila ang vaccination privilege noh. Those eligible for the booster doses, please avail now. Take the opportunity makakuha mo sa inyong mga bakuna, that’s the only way you can prevent death. Atoang tumong wala’y death (Let’s ask the people to avail of the vaccination privilege. Those eligible for the booster doses, please avail now. Take the opportunity to get your vaccines, that’s the only way you can prevent death. Our goal is no death).”
She urged Dabawenyos to avail of the primary dose series and the boosters as soon as they can, since the State of the Public Health Emergency is only until December 31, 2022. It is still uncertain if it will be extended in the new year by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
Should the State of the Public Health Emergency be lifted, the budget for COVID-19 vaccines and rolling them out may be affected. Schlosser said while the vaccines are still available to them for free, Dabawenyos should grab the opportunity to get vaccinated and boosted. CIO
