Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion 3rd is worried about the low number of booster shots administered to eligible recipients. Even with the relaxation of our local classifications, we have to remain vigilan and carefull and always be on the lookout for possible surge in Covid-19cases.
Concepcion warned that the country is racing against time as there are millions of doses of Covid-19 vaccines nearing expiration. He is worried that by the time Filipinos decide to get the additional shots, the vaccines will have expired.
In the highly vaccinated National Capital Region, only 30 percent had taken their boosters, while in the provinces—those with full-vaccination rates of 75 percent or higher—booster coverage so far ranges between 11 and 16 percent, the businessman added, noting that these were “not encouraging numbers.”
Following the surge in Omicron variant cases in January, COVID-19 cases in the country continued to go down, with Metro Manila and some regions now deemed low risk for coronavirus transmission.
Concepcion reiterated that current vaccine stocks in the country are set to expire by June.Concepcion also suggested redefining “fully vaccinated” as persons who have received a booster dose, and that vaccination cards have expiry dates and be replaced with booster cards.
Following the surge in Omicron variant cases in January, COVID-19 cases in the country continued to go down, with Metro Manila and some regions now deemed low risk for coronavirus transmission. Concepcion reiterated that current vaccine stocks in the country are set to expire by June.
Concepcion expressed hope that widespread booster vaccinations would lead to the eventual lifting of the state of public health emergency in the country, which remains at the least restrictive alert level 1.
Concepcion also suggested redefining “fully vaccinated” as persons who have received a booster dose, and that vaccination cards have expiry dates and be replaced with booster cards.
With additional reports: The Manila Times, Kristina Maralit, inquirer.net, Christine Avendano
Image Sources: ncoa.org, tatlerasia.com
