ILOILO City – Keep wearing facemask even after having been vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The vaccine needs enough time – two weeks after inoculation – to build the body’s immunity against the disease, explained Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical officer at the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
She was reacting to reports that some individuals still contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, despite completing the recommended doses of Food and Drug Administration-authorized coronavirus vaccines.
It was recently reported that 17 of the 245 persons who succumbed to COVID-19 in Iloilo City between January and Aug. 12 were vaccinated. Of the 17, 13 had their first dose while four completed their two-dose or single-dose vaccination.
According to Natalaray, a person could only be considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after getting the second shot of the two-dose Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna jabs, or two weeks after getting the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
She refrained, however, from commenting on the death of the individuals who had completed their vaccination; she said she was not privy to their medical histories.
It is important, said Natalaray, to review the medical histories of these cases like the dates of their vaccination, if they manifested symptoms, if they had comorbidities or if they were senior citizens.
However, Natalaray cited two death cases of completely vaccinated individuals in the region; both were infected before they developed anti-bodies against SARS-CoV-2.
“Indi kita maka-conclude nga wala sila na protektahan sang vaccine kay they were exposed during the time nga indi pa sila fully protected,” said Natalaray.
The incubation period of COVID-19 is from five to six days up to the maximum of 14 days, she explained.
Thus, it is possible a person could still contract COVID-19 before or just after vaccination, or even during the two-week period the vaccines were still building the body’s protection.
This is why it is important to continue observing the minimum public health standards after vaccination, stressed Natalaray.
“Bisan nabakunahan na, apat naga-follow gihapon minimum public health standards,” she said, referring to the wearing of facemask and face shield, observing physical distancing, and proper hand washing / disinfection.
On the other hand, the DOH central office condemned health professionals spreading false information on COVID-19 vaccines.
“It is irresponsible…the country continues to face the threat of the more infectious Delta variant (of SARS-CoV-2),” the DOH said.
It issued the statement in reaction to a video featuring a certain Dr. Romeo Quijano alleging that COVID-19 vaccines were unsafe.
“There is a growing number of real-world evidence globally…consistently show(ing) that COVID-19 vaccines have led to significant reductions in hospitalization and death among vaccinated individuals,” it stressed.
“Maging maingat at responsable po tayo sa pagpapalaganap ng impormasyon sa ating mga kababayan,” DOH added./PN
