The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force aims to increase the two-dose primary series and booster rollout in the “Bakunahang Bayan Pinalakas Vaccination Days” on September 26 to 30 and the weekend vaccination at People’s Park this month as the city logged 19 new COVID-19 related deaths from September 4 to 10.
Davao City COVID-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser, during the COVID-19 Alert program of the 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired on Wednesday, September 14, said that the city slightly improved from 42 percent to 43.11 percent coverage in the first booster dose.
But the second booster dose remains low at approximately eight percent as of September 9.
The second booster turnout of the 18 to 59 years old population age group, she said, is also significantly low. Only nine percent out of the 51.18 percent that received first boosters.
“Significant rin po talaga cases of death, consistent double digits tayo. From September 4 to 10, we had 19 deaths. Last time we had 17. We’re really hoping that even with the voluntary face mask, dili maging consistent ang increase sa deaths (The deaths are significant since we consistently have double digits. From September 4 to 10, we had 19 deaths. Last time we had 17. We’re really hoping that even with the voluntary face mask, our deaths won’t be consistent). This disease can be prevented through the vaccine. Whether we like it or not, vaccine really works,” Schlosser said.
Of the recent 19 deaths, eight were unvaccinated, including five 60 years old and above and two children below five years old.
The city health official said six vaccinated individuals who also succumbed to COVID-19 never took any booster shots.
“Sa morbidity week 36, 11 out of 19 deaths were senior citizens. Sa atong mga senior citizens, please avail of your boosters kay kamo gyud duna’y pinaka highest number of deaths (To our senior citizens, please avail of your boosters since your age group has the highest number of deaths),” Schlosser added.
She urged Dabawenyos to take advantage of the Bakunahang Bayan Pinalakas Vaccination Days, which is in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross, and the vaccination rollout scheduled on all weekends of September at the People’s Park for missed, first, second, and booster doses.
She said, “Hopefully, mapataas pa nato atoang booster doses (Hopefully, we can increase our booster doses).”
Permanent anti-COVID-19 vaccination teams are also deployed in the city’s district health centers to make the vaccines more accessible to Dabawenyos. CIO
