Whether or not new Omicron variants XBB and XBC have entered Davao City, the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force said Dabawenyos should get their primary two-dose vaccine and booster shots to protect themselves from getting a severe or critical type of the disease.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, during Friday’s (October 21, 2022) Bida Bakunado program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), said, “COVID-19 is here to stay. Di ta pwede magpakabuta-bungol naa pa man (We can’t be blind and deaf because it is still very much around), we just have to live with COVID-19 and protect ourselves from the severity of the disease. The only way without fear of dying of Covid is to get doses and boosters.”
She said it’s inevitable to contract the disease since economic, social, and educational activities have already resumed, which enabled more face-to-face gatherings with only face mask wearing (in enclosed areas, public transportation, hospitals, and outdoor crowded areas) and frequent handwashing as the minimum public health standards (MPHS).
Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergiere earlier reported that the Davao Region is among the regions with detected Omicron XBB cases. But Schlosser said they are still awaiting word from DOH Davao about it.
Schlosser said, “Natural ways of the virus mag-mutate gyud na sya. It’s a matter of time muabot sa atong tugkaran. Natala na record nila, for all we know naa na ta’y different variants diri. Dili na ta matingala muabot sa atong tugkaran sa atong balay (It’s the nature of the virus to mutate. It’s a matter of time before it reaches our households. With the number that DOH recorded, for all we know, we already have different variants here. We should no longer be surprised if the new variants reach our homes). Let’s protect ourselves from getting the severe and critical type of COVID-19. Get the vaccines and avail of our booster doses.”
The city health official said new variants are more highly transmissible but are easily resolved. But the main concern is when it hits an unvaccinated or unboosted fully-dosed immunocompromised individual or someone with autoimmune as it may result in death.
“Pag bag-ong variant mas transferrable gyud sya (New variants are more transferrable). Bakuna works in different variants of COVID-19. Protect yourself. Have your vaccine, get your booster shots,” she added.
She also urged Dabawenyos to take precautionary measures now that usual activities are back to pre-pandemic. “If you can do social distancing, why not? Still wear your face masks even if it’s voluntary (in open and uncrowded areas). Your face mask is a layer of protection for you,” Schlosser said.
Check out the operational vaccination sites in district health centers and mobile vaccination schedules here ? https://bit.ly/3VSnPuO.
Weekend vaccinations, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays at People’s Park, are also extended until December. CIO
