Almost 85% of COVID-19 patients admitted in hospitals are unvaxxed — Vergeire

More than 80% of admitted COVID-19 patients in hospitals are not vaccinated against the illness, the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.

As of December 28 last year, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said almost 85% of patients admitted are not vaccinated.

“So sa ngayon po, base sa aming datos ng Department of Health, we found that based on the hospital data… almost 85% of those admitted are not vaccinated," Vergeire said at a media briefing.

Meanwhile, almost 93% of those who succumbed to COVID-19 are only partially vaccinated or were not vaccinated at all.

Vergeire said that though they are still trying to finalize the recent data, the trends “look the same.”

Despite the increase in cases, the Health undersecretary said the national healthcare utilization rate of the Philippines remains at low risk.

At present, 40% of the nation’s ward beds are occupied while 38% of the ICU beds are in use.

Less chance of hospitalization

Vergeire said cases recorded in the National Capital Region (NCR) have a 60% less chance of hospitalization compared to other regions, especially amid the holiday season.

She said a “decoupling” phenomenon was being observed in NCR.

“Ang decoupling ay nangangahulugan na bagama’t tumataas ang bilang ng mga kaso, hindi po ito nagtra-translate sa malaking bilang ng severe at critical cases,” Vergeire said.

(Decoupling means that though cases are increasing, it does not translate to a large number of severe and critical cases.)

Meanwhile, the DOH observed a decrease in the number of severe and critical cases. Vergeire, however, warned that this should not lead to complacency.

“Ngunit hindi po indication para mapanatag ang karamihan dahil tumataas naman po ang kaso ng mga mild at asymptomatic cases,” she said.

(However, this is not an indication to be complacent because our mild and asymptomatic cases are increasing.)

Omicron given too much credit

For his part, Dr. Edsel Salvana of the DOH-Technical Advisory Group stressed that Omicron is being given too much credit for the low number of severe and critical cases in the country.

“Kahit ano pa man to, kahit Omicron to, kung mababa ang vaccination rate natin, we would still be seeing increases in critical and severe. It really is our vaccination that is saving lives,” Salvana said.

(Whatever variant it is, if we have a low vaccination rate, we would still be seeing an increase in critical and severe cases. It really is our vaccination that is saving lives.)

Due to this, he said the agency is concerned that provinces with low vaccination rates would “get into real trouble” once Omicron enters their communities.

“And that is why we are also concerned na kapag lumipat itong Omicron na ito… sa mga provinces na mababa pa ang vaccination rate, lalo na sa A2 and A3, they would get into trouble, they would get into real trouble,” he said.

And that is why we are also concerned that should Omicron move to provinces with low vaccination rates, especially among the A2 and A3, they would get into trouble, they would get into real trouble.)

“So while it is fortunate na mukhang milder ang Omicron, ang nagdra-drive ng current wave natin, the more important protective factor here is the high vaccination rate,” he added.

The DOH again called on the public to get vaccinated against the illness.

Incidental cases increased

Meanwhile, the DOH also observed an increase in incidental COVID-19 cases or those who were admitted for other reasons but tested positive from December 25, 2021 to January 7, 2022 compared to during the Delta surge.

Citing data from the Philippine General Hospital, Vergeire said 53.9% of patients were admitted for COVID-19 while 46.1% were incidental cases from September 15 to 18.

Meanwhile, the number of incidental cases increased to 88.7%.

In DOH NCR hospitals, Vergeire said there are 1,284 incidental patients while only 226 were admitted for having COVID-19.

Among those admitted in the ICU, 50 were admitted for COVID while 67 are incidental patients.

4th vaccine shot

Vergeire, meanwhile, said that no manufacturer has applied for an emergency use authority for the fourth booster shot.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the Philippines may extend the giving of primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine to up to fourth dose.

“We are still prioritizing the primary series o ‘yung pagbabakuna sa mga taong wala pang bakuna, pagbabakuna sa mga taong isang dose pa lang ang nare-receive, pagbabakuna at pagkukumpleto ng bakuna para sa ating A1, A2, and A3 individuals lalong-lalo na ngayon na may threat po tayo ng pagtaas ng kaso,” Vergeire said.

(We are still prioritizing the primary series or the vaccination of unvaccinated, those who are partially vaccinated, and the vaccination of our A1, A2, and A3 individuals, especially amid the increase in cases.) — RSJ, GMA News