Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY - The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force reiterated its call Tuesday for senior citizens and persons with comorbidities to have their booster shots, warning that severe symptoms could result in death.
Dr. Michelle Schlosser, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson, issued the call following records showing that in the last 36 weeks, 11 of 19 deaths related to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) involved senior citizens.
The deaths included six elderly persons who received the two-dose primary series but never had any booster shot while the other five were unvaccinated.
"To our senior citizens, please avail of your boosters since your age group has the highest number of deaths. The data is showing us it's not enough to just be fully vaccinated," Schlosser said.
In a meeting on Monday, the vaccination cluster reported that the city logged a total of 1,361,872 first dose vaccinations as of September 16, which is 102.60 percent of the target population of 1,327,323 (80 percent of the total population).
The second dose vaccination is at 100.9 percent (1,339,776) of the target population.
Meanwhile, of the 1,339,776, who got their first doses, 311,993 or 43.3 percent received their first booster shots.
However, only 9 percent or 64,915 got their second booster jabs.
In the A2 population age group (senior citizens), only 41.9 percent (35,395) out of the 107,775 fully vaccinated have taken their first booster shots, while only 13.87 percent (11,706) received their second booster shots.
Based on studies, Schlosser said Covid-19 vaccines' effectiveness waned after six months, which is why boosters are needed.
“Seniors and persons with comorbidities who completed their booster shots usually manifest mild symptoms when infected with Covid-19, while some of those in other age groups don't have symptoms at all. In both cases, there is no need for hospitalization,” she said. (PNA)
