ILOILO – A total of 318 more cases of three of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Omicron subvariants BA.5, BA.4 and BA.2.12.1 were detected in Western Visayas.
According to Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, of the 816 new cases of BA.5 logged in the country from July 13 to 18, 309 cases were from Region 6.
For her part, Iloilo’s Cong. Janette Garin (5th District) said the government should expand the second COVID-19 booster doses to the general public for complete protection against the disease, as she warned that the new Omicron subvariants are “hyper contagious”.
DOH data showed that 686 of the 816 BA.5 cases were already tagged as recovered while 78 are going through isolation.
The status of 52 others is still being verified.
Meanwhile, of the 42 individuals positive for BA.4 variant, seven are from Region 6.
Of these 42 cases, 36 have already recovered from the disease while five are on isolation. The status of the rest is under verification.
Garin stressed the urgency to administer the second booster doses, as vaccine-induced protection is not “outright” taking at least two weeks to one month.
“The new sub-omicron variants are hyper contagious, spreading like measles, with one patient infecting 18 others. Each of the 18 positive patients will have to infect 18 others. Imagine the multiplier effect. How do we fight? We increase our protection. No room for delay. We should have a sense of urgency,” said Garin.
Region 6 also logged two more cases of BA.2.12.1 out of the 52 cases detected across the country.
Forty-nine of these cases have already been tagged as recovered while the status of the remaining three cases is being verified.
Vergierie noted that majority of these individuals infected by Omicron subvariants are vaccinated against COVID-19.
How they got exposed to the subvariants is still unknown. Their travel histories are still being verified.
Aside from the recent additional 318 Omicron subvariant cases, Region 6 has already 808 cases of Omicron sublineages as of July 17 data of the DOH-6.
Garin said other countries have shown the benefits of two booster doses among those 50 years old and above, and those with comorbidities.
“In fact, many countries have already started giving two booster doses to those 50 years old and above, healthcare workers and those with comorbidities. Bakit ba natin ipagkakait ang dagdag na protection sa mga gusto at nangangailangan,” she said.
“Fully immunized” should now mean the completion of the primary series and two booster doses, stressed Garin, a former Health secretary.
Sooner, she said, the primary vaccination series will have to be three doses, based on the behavior of the virus and its impact on vaccination. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
