600,000 health workers still without 2nd boosters

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 600,000 health care workers (HCWs) are still without their second COVID-19 booster shots, according to the Department of Health.

DOH reported that as of Dec. 12, a total of 603,905 people under the A1 population comprising HCWs have received their second booster shots.

“Out of the 1,196,107 eligible A1 population, 592,202 are currently due for 2nd booster doses,” the DOH said in a statement over the weekend.

The second booster shot was first made available for HCWs last May.

“We have cumulatively provided 2nd boosters to a total of 3,691,412 eligible Filipinos,” the DOH disclosed.

There were calls to expand the coverage of second booster doses to the general population to prevent vaccine wastage.

The DOH, however, stressed that vaccination is not mandatory and that consent is necessary prior to giving COVID-19 jabs.

At this time, DOH said there is still no recommendation to expand the second booster immunization to the general population.

“The review process is always ongoing. When new evidence comes in, we can then assess and recommend 2nd boosters for the general population while going through the proper regulatory process,” the DOH explained.

Cases may reach 1,200

Meanwhile, new cases of COVID-19 in the country could go as high as 1,200 on Dec. 18, OCTA Research group said.

“Expecting 1,000-1,200 new cases tomorrow,” OCTA Research fellow Guido David said in a tweet Saturday night, citing data from the DOH’s latest COVID-19 case bulletin.

On Saturday, the DOH logged 1,196 new COVID-19 cases, 39 deaths, 1,846 recoveries, 18,262 active cases, and a 12.5 percent nationwide positivity rate.

According to David, the nationwide positivity rate or the percentage of people found positive for COVID-19 was at 12.5 percent.

A total of 471 or 39.4 percent of the 1,196 new cases were recorded in the National Capital Region, followed by Cavite (75 new cases), Rizal (66), Laguna (53) and Bulacan (52).

The DOH expects a spike in coronavirus infections during the Christmas holidays.

Daily infections could hit 1,114 to 2,294 by the end of December, the DOH said, while active cases could reach 18,000. –  Pia Lee-Brago