KIDS' VAX. A health personnel administers the Covid-19 vaccine to a young girl during the rollout vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years old at the Calabash Health Center in Sampaloc, Manila on Friday (May 20, 2022). (PNA photo by Rico H. Borja)
COVID-19 infections in Metro Manila went up by 19 percent during the week of May 13 to 19, the independent OCTA Research group reported Friday.
OCTA said there were 71 cases a day during that week, higher than the 59 cases during the previous week.
OCTA senior fellow Dr. Guido David also reported an increase in the average daily attack rate (ADAR), to 0.50 cases per 100,000 population from 0.42.
The reproduction number has also gone up to 0.9 from 0.76, David said.
A reproduction number of less than one indicates that viral transmission among infected individuals is still under control.
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Despite the rise in cases, the positivity rate remained at 1.2 percent, and the health care utilization rate and the intensive care unit utilization also stayed under low risk.
OCTA's indicators are different from that of the Department of Health (DoH), which relies on CovidActNow figures used by the Harvard School of Public Health.
In a statement, the DoH said that the slight rise in cases did not translate to increased admissions or utilization rates.
It also said Metro Manila is still classified as minimal risk since its two-week growth rate remained at -17 percent.
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The DoH reminded the public that to prevent another Covid surge, they should continue to follow the minimum health protocols and get themselves vaccinated and boosted.
According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer in charge Dr. Oscar Gutierrez, no manufacturer has applied for an amended emergency use authorization to use booster shots on children ages 5 to 11 years.
Gutierrez said during a televised briefing the agency has not received any application from Pfizer, whose booster vaccine was approved for use on children in the United States.
An application will be evaluated by its vaccine panel, a process that could take three weeks, he said.
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Philippine Medical Association President Dr. Benito Atienza said he does not expect early approval of the booster vaccine for kids because it has not yet gone through a comprehensive study.
Atienza said most doctors are waiting for the Sinovac vaccine specifically for the age group to be approved by the Health Technology Assessment Council.
Gutierrez also said any decision to administer second booster shots to overseas Filipino workers rests solely with the DoH.
Second booster shots put on hold
He also welcomed the development of a recombinant vaccine by vaccine manufacturer Moderna, which contains the original virus and the Omicron variant.
The DoH also said the FDA is evaluating the EUA application for the Convidecia vaccine from CanSino Biologics of China.
Convidecia was given an emergency use listing by the World Health Organization on Thursday, making it the 11th vaccine to get such a listing.
Convidecia is a single-dose vaccine that uses a modified human adenovirus that synthesizes the Spike S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
It has an efficacy rate of 64 percent against symptomatic disease and 92 percent against severe Covid-19.
Also on Friday, former Health secretary and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin reminded the public to be cautious because the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1 is spreading.
"Alam na nating hindi pa tapos ang pandemya, alam nating mas nakakahawa ang subvariant na ito, kaya habang maaga pa ay pigilan na ang pagkalat nito (We are all aware that the pandemic is far from over. Knowing that this subvariant is contagious, we must act quickly to prevent its transmission)," Garin said.
Close to 55 million Filipinos should have been given booster shots by now, she said. As it is, only 13.7 million people have been given boosters. If the current low rate of immunization continues, Garin said a surge could happen.
The DoH recently confirmed the local transmission of BA.2.12.1, a highly infectious subvariant of Omicron.
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