Duque: No absolute protection yet in 23 cities with target COVID-19 vaccine coverage

The 23 cities that have fully vaccinated over 70% of its target population may have achieved the desired vaccine coverage but they have yet to achieve "absolute protection" from COVID-19, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said on Thursday.

He said herd immunity should involve the whole country achieving the target vaccination coverage.

“In terms of absolute protection, hindi pa rin kasi may mga lugar na mapapasukan pa rin sila from other areas na mababa ang vaccination coverage. So ibig sabihin pwede pa rin sila mahawaan,” Duque said.

[But in terms of absolute protection, it’s not, because there are areas that can be visited by individuals from areas with low vaccine coverage, so they can still be infected.]

“Kasi syempre may kwan, nagbya-byahe ang mga tao, diba? Hindi naman sila parang naka limitado lang sa kanilang mga lugar, kundi nagbyabyahe sila,” he added.

[Because people travel. They are not limited to one area.]

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Monday said that the following cities had achieved herd immunity after fully vaccinating 70% of their respective populations.

NCR

• San Juan City
• Mandaluyong City
• Pateros
• Marikina City
• Taguig City
• Pasay City
• Las Piñas City
• Parañaque City
• Manila City
• Muntinlupa City
• Makati City
• Valenzuela City
• Quezon City
• Navotas City
• Pasig City
• Malabon City
• Caloocan City

Outside NCR

• Baguio City
• Angeles City
• Iloilo City
• Lapu-Lapu City
• Mandaue City
• Davao City

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has said that the DOH could not say if the country’s immunity to COVID-19 was enough until all regions had the same vaccination rates.

Duque stressed the importance of continuing to comply with minimum public health standards even after herd immunity was reportedly achieved in some of the country's top cities.

He said vaccination did not offer complete protection against COVID-19.

"'Yung herd immunity kasi kapag sinabi mo ‘yun ay ‘yung bakuna hindi naman siya 100% makakaiwas sa hawaan… Pero ang mas importante makapagpigil ng hawaan ay yung public minimum health standard,” Duque said.

[When we say herd immunity because the vaccine does not offer 100% protection… so what’s more important to prevent transmission is the MPHS.]

“So dalawa, ang solusyon, dalawa. Vaccination and MPHS. Hindi pwedeng bakuna lang,” he added.

[There are two solutions: vaccination and MPHS. Vaccination alone is not enough.]

MPHS involves the wearing of face masks, social distancing, and frequent handwashing.

Still, Duque said that a herd immunity on the basis of high vaccination rates remained to be the goal amid the uncertainties of the Omicron variant.

“‘Yun naman ang ating pinupuntirya. Ang pakay natin is to reach about mga 80% to 90% of our population which is about 88 to 98 million Filipinos by the second quarter of next year,” Duque said.

[This is our goal. Our goal is to reach 80% to 90% of our population, which is about 88 to 98 million Filipinos by the second quarter of next year.]

Duque called on the public to join the second wave of the vaccination drive from December 15 to 17.

“Magpalista na kayo para makasiguro na mabigyan kayo ng panglaban sa COVID-19,” he said. -NB, GMA News