Department of Health-Central Visayas chief pathologist and Covid-19 regional spokesperson Dr. Mary Jean Loreche. (File photo)
CEBU CITY – A Department of Health (DOH)-Region 7 (Central Visayas) official on Wednesday refuted OCTA Research group’s recommendation to vaccinate only 50 percent of Cebu’s population against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), insisting on the 70 percent threshold to achieve a certain level of communal protection through mass vaccination.
DOH-7 chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche said in a message sent to media that an epidemiologist's computation is needed to establish the needed vaccination percentage to reach communal protection.
Loreche, the Covid-19 regional spokesperson, also said it is better to follow the acceptable models in achieving the goal for protection.
“And based on the models that are already in practice, 70 percent is a safe number for herd immunity and we follow this in computing for Cebu based on the total number of eligible population,” she said.
The independent OCTA Research group on Monday said the Philippine government should aim to vaccinate 50 percent of the population in Cebu, Metro Manila and the cities of Tuguegarao, Santiago, Baguio, and Imus, as well as the municipality of Cainta in Rizal province, which have all logged a high number of Covid-19 cases.
The group further said 7.98 million Filipinos need to be immunized against the virus, which only requires 15.96 million doses of vaccines.
However, Loreche rebutted OCTA Research group’s statement that Cebu is a high risk area.
“Cebu has a stable number of new cases and low active cases. Our critical care utilization as of May 23, 2021 is at 15.7 percent with allocated bed for Covid-19 at 862, and occupied beds is only at 135. This reflects a very good case control removing us from a label of high risk,” she explained.
The DOH-7 official, however, said if what the group meant was Cebu is placed high in the priority list for vaccination due to its economic and tourism contribution to the country, “then I would take that as a positive endorsement for including Cebu in the greater allocation of vaccines”. (PNA)
