ILOILO – In this province, almost 100 percent of individuals vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but still contracted it were asymptomatic or only experienced mild symptoms.
Since the start of the pandemic, this province listed 21,441 confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Aug. 25 data of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
Of the cumulative cases, 1,124 were noted by the PHO as vaccinated persons, either with the first dose or second dose.
The same data showed that 816 of these cases were active, 302 have already recovered and six died.
Of the total active cases, 55 were admitted, 142 facility quarantined and 619 home quarantined.
However, PHO’s data also showed that 422 or 37.54 percent of the vaccinated coronavirus cases were asymptomatic; 695 or 61.83 percent had minor flu or influenza-like illness; and only seven or 0.62 percent experienced severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).
A total of 279 cases have yet to complete their two-dose vaccination while 845 have completed their two-dose or single-dose (Janssen) vaccination.
Here’s the list of the vaccines administered to these vaccinated cases:
* Sinovac – 564 cases or 50 percent (114 first dose; 450 second dose)
* Astra Zeneca – 305 cases or 27 percent (140 first dose; 165 second dose)
* Janssen – 226 or 20 percent (single dose)
* Pfizer – 16 or two percent (12 first dose; four second dose)
* Moderna – 12 or one percent (first dose)
* Gamaleya – one or zero percent (first dose)
These vaccinated cases came from these age groups: 11 to 20 years-old (14); 21 to 30 years-old (265); 31 to 40 years-old (266); 41 to 50 years-old (201); 51 to 60 years-old (176); 61-70 years-old (117); 71 to 80 years-old (69); 81-90 years-old (15); and above 90 (one).
In fact, the number of vaccinated individuals who still contracted COVID was very small – about 0.3919 percent – of the 286,799 total number of eligible population vaccinated by the province so far, revealed Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, acting head of the PHO.
Of the total number of eligible population vaccinated, 194,654 have completed their two-dose or single-dose vaccination.
Iloilo has so far completely inoculated 13 percent of its target population of 2,069,653, Quiñon said.
Quiñon is encouraging the eligible population to get vaccinated in order to be protected against severe COVID.
‘VACCINATION UNAVOIDABLE GATHERING’
Despite the low figures of vaccinated cases, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said there’s a need to be more proactive.
He said he wanted to know how many days before these vaccinated individuals found they were infected with COVID-19, so that adjustments or measures at the level of the provincial government or concerned LGUs will be made.
“Ano bala ang epekto sang gatherings sa vaccination? Pila ang nag-positive after first dose and pila ka adlaw pagkatapos (nabal-an nga positive for COVID)? Basi nalatnan ‘ni sila sa vaccination site,” said Defensor.
“We have to make adjustments because the vaccination is one public gathering that we cannot avoid right now,” Defensor pointed out.
According to Defensor, the provincial government only monitors the workplace, public transportation, public markets, and religious gatherings as possible source of infection then, but now, he said, they also need to look into vaccination sites and the distribution of cash aid under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
For Defensor, despite the strict implementation of the minimum public health standards at the vaccination sites and distribution of the cash assistance, there really is a risk of virus transmission.
“People gather…There will be transmission that’s why we want to find out kon ano epekto sang gatherings sa aton so that we can make adjustments,” said Defensor.
Every day, Defensor said he monitors the PHO’s report on COVID-19 cases, including those vaccinated who have been infected./PN
