The Davao City COVID-19 Task Force reiterated anew the importance of the primary two-dose vaccination series and booster shots in the wake of the 17 COVID-19 deaths logged in the city from August 28 to September 3, 2022.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, said, “This is the highest number of deaths we’ve had since nag alert level 1 ta (since we were placed under alert level 1).”
She said while Davao City recorded over 100 percent vaccination among the target population, the first and second booster vaccinations remained significantly low.
Of the 17 deaths, 10 were fully vaccinated, including two with first booster jabs, while the other seven were unvaccinated.
Six of the 10 vaccinated deaths belonged to the vulnerable seniors age-group 60 years old and above while two were in the 40-49 population group and one each from the 50 to 59 and 20 to 29 age brackets.
Of the seven unvaccinated deaths, five were senior citizens, one was in the 50-59 age group, and one child below five years.
“The Vaccination Cluster is emphasizing the need for seniors and those in the vulnerable sector (immunocompromised and persons with comorbidities) to get their booster shots. The data is showing us it’s not enough to just be fully vaccinated,” the city health official said, adding that studies show that vaccines’ efficacy wanes after three to six months.
She also called on parents and guardians to be extra mindful in protecting their children who are not yet eligible for vaccination as they might also succumb to death due to severe COVID-19 symptoms. Thus, she urged adults living with these unvaccinated kids to get themselves fully vaccinated and boosted to protect their youngest household members.
Schlosser also discouraged parents from bringing unvaccinated infants and children outside their homes to protect them from the risk of contracting the disease.
She said that in the last morbidity week, four unvaccinated teenagers aged 18 to 19 also died of COVID-19. This, according to her, clearly shows that vaccination with boosters works against the severity of the disease and helps prevent death.
Check out this week’s operational vaccination sites in district health centers ? https://www.facebook.com/davaocitygov/posts/176699788205269.CIO
