As the effectiveness of premier doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccines usually wane after six months, the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force urged the over one million fully vaccinated Dabawenyos anew to get their booster shots as soon as they can.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, during Friday’s Bida Bakunado program of the 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on May 27, 2022, said, “We are strengthening the information education campaign para mas maengganyo ang mga katawhan to have their first or second booster dose. By ruling gyud, naa’y waning down of the effectiveness of the vaccine (We are strengthening the information education campaign to encourage the public to have their first or second booster dose. By ruling, the vaccine’s effectiveness wanes).”
She said that according to studies, the anti-COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness waned after six months.
She also said that other routine vaccines that children and adults also get have to be received periodically, like the flu shots that are taken yearly while regular children’s vaccines also have their boosters.
Of the 1,313,705 Dabawenyo who received the two premier doses of the anti-COVID-19 vaccines, only 19.68 percent or 258,589 have received the first booster dose as of May 20, 2022, and only 2.90 percent or 7,506 got their second booster dose.
Dr. Schlosser said A1 (medical frontliners), A2 (senior citizens), A3 (adults with comorbidities), and the immunocompromised individuals are privileged to be prioritized to get the second booster jabs.
“Atoa silang gina-awhag to take the opportunity na sila ang giuna o sila ang gi-prioritize sa atong gobyerno to receive the second booster because they belong to the vulnerable group. As what we have been discussing here since they are in the vulnerable group, sila ang high-risk of getting the infection, high-risk pud sila makakuha og severe type of COVID-19. I hope masabtan gyud nila ang importansya sa pagkuha sa ilang second booster dose (We are encouraging them to take the opportunity that they are prioritized by the government to receive the second booster because they belong to the vulnerable groups. As we have been discussing here, since they are in a vulnerable group, they are at high risk of getting infected and high risk of getting a severe type of COVID-19. I hope they understand the importance of getting their second booster doses),” the city health official added.
She also said that a lot of the general population group want to have their second boosters but since they are not in the priority groups, they will have to wait for their turn.
She called on the A1, A2, A3, and the immunocompromised fully vaccinated Dabawenyos to go to the nearest vaccination site for their booster shots.
Dr. Schlosser said, “Ayaw tawon ninyo hulata nga magpa-booster mo na daghan napud ta og cases. Magpa-booster namo before anything happens (Don’t wait for the time that we will have a lot of cases before you get your boosters. Get your boosters now before anything happens).”
She said the two Omicron subvariants that have entered the Philippines already have local transmissions.
The operational vaccination sites for boosters open on Saturday, May 28, 2022, are Abreeza Ayala Malls Food Court, NCCC Mall Buhangin, People’s Park, and Crocodile Park.CIO
