85% of severe COVID-19 patients in DOH hospitals in NCR are not vaccinated

Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Eighty-five percent of COVID-19 patients at the intensive care units (ICU) requiring mechanical ventilators in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in Metro Manila are not vaccinated, according to the agency.

“Over the week, we have noted a steady increase in hospital admissions in Metro Manila. Data from DOH hospitals in NCR [National Capital Region] shows that 85% of those in the ICU and requiring mechanical ventilators are not vaccinated at all,” the DOH said in a statement on Saturday.

“With both Delta and Omicron variants in our midst, we reiterate our call to all who have not yet availed of safe, effective, and free COVID-19 vaccines. Do not delay any further,” the DOH said.

DOH hospitals are government hospitals that are directly under the supervision of the health department. Management of other local hospitals has been transferred to local government units after the devolution of health services.

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The health department reiterated that evidence is clear that vaccines can protect against severe and critical COVID-19 illnesses and death.

The DOH also advised those who have received the primary vaccination series to get booster shots.

‘Supplies are plenty, vaccines are waiting for you’

Meanwhile, the DOH also urged the over 57 million Filipinos who have been vaccinated to patiently engage those who remain hesitant to get the jabs.

“We cannot stop until all eligible Filipinos are vaccinated. After all, no one is safe, until everyone is,” it added.

The DOH also thanked the people who have observed the minimum public health standards and who got vaccinated.

“It has gotten us to Alert Level 2. We did experience what new normal means—business and schools opened, and we were able to join our families and friends for the holidays. As cases continue to increase, we continue to monitor areas where alert level escalation may be needed,” the DOH said.

The health department reiterated the need to get vaccinated as the country sees a sharp increase in new COVID-19 cases.

New coronavirus infections have been sharply increasing in the country in recent days. From just less than 500 cases in early and mid-December, the DOH reported 889 new cases on December 29; 1,623 on December 30; 2,961 cases on December 31; and 3,617 new cases on January 1.

The positivity rate in the entire country is now 14.8 percent, much higher than the five percent figure recommended by the World Health Organization and less than one percent recorded in the previous weeks of December.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the increase in COVID-19 cases could be due to the highly contagious Omicron variant of coronavirus. The DOH earlier said that cases are also expected to increase due to holiday-related activities.

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