Darius Fernandez, 33, a fish porter receives a COVID-19 booster shot from DOH personnel from the DOH Center for Health Development 1 at his place of work in Magsaysay Fish Market in Dagupan City during the 4th National Vaccination Day on March 11. (Photo by Willie Lomibao)
MANILA, Philippines — The country may face a surge in COVID-19 cases after the May 9 polls or in the next few months, a government health adviser said Friday, citing multiple factors, among them the holding of superspreader events coupled with the “waning immunity” among the population of people who have yet to get their booster shot.
“Pwedeng meron tayong surge of cases, especially after the election,” Dr. Rontgene Solante, chief of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit at the government-run San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, said during Friday’s Laging Handa briefing.
(We may see a surge of cases, especially after the elections.)
“Pwedeng magkahawaan ulit yung mga nabakunahan na na hindi pa naka-booster, pwedeng mayroong reinfection,” he added.
(They may infect one another, those who have been vaccinated but have yet to get their booster, there could be reinfection.)
The Department of Health earlier said that more than 33 million Filipinos have yet to get their COVID-19 booster shot.
READ: DOH: 33M eligible Filipinos yet to receive COVID-19 booster shot
On top of these, Solante said that the eased restriction on movement among the populace with some already dropping the use of face mask may also prop up the country’s COVID numbers anew.
“Yung iba ‘di na nagsusuot ng face mask. So ito ay multifactorial na pwedeng tataas ang kaso after election or during the next two to three months,” Solante added.
(Some people don’t even wear a face mask. So this is multifactorial, the possible rise in cases after the election or during the next two to three months.)
Meanwhile, Solante said the government should expand its national vaccination days and make it a regular activity.
“Napakaimportante nung national vaccination days. Although nakikita natin na bumaba yung turnout pero sa tingin ko we just have to encourage, paigtingin… para marami tayong mabakunahan,” he said.
“Ang advantage kasi ng national vaccination days, yung accessibility. Maraming lugar na pwede tayong magbakuna. Compared to without that, kailangan talagang konti na lang yung lugar na pupuntahan, like in the LGU, there are selected areas,” he added.
“So tingin ko sana mapalawak at itutuloy ng government natin ang national vaccination day,” he further said.