General Santos City (PIA) -- Dr. Edvir Jane Montañer, National Immunization Program Medical Coordinator of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development SOCCSKSARGEN clarified that all COVID-19 vaccines are effective against all variants including the Delta.
Montañer made this clarification during Thursday’s Joint Virtual Kapihan of the Philippine Information Agency XII with the City Public Information Office of Gensan.
She said all vaccines have the same effect against COVID-19 regardless of the brand, but they only differ in the efficacy rate.
“So far, for layman’s term, iba-iba lang po yung components but same lang po yung effect nilang lahat. Yung efficacy lang po yung medyo magkakaiba…But then, there is a study also that says all of them, more than 90% efficacy to fight against COVID-19,” she said.
On the issue that antibodies in the Sinovac vaccine declined from around six months after a second dose and needs a third shot for a strong booster effect, Montañer said they were not given advice regarding booster dose because of the threat of the Delta variant.
“As of this time po wala pong advice sa atin na for those who have been given previously with any brand of COVID-19 vaccine especially Sinovac ay kailangan na pong magpa-booster because of the presence of the Delta variants; so all of the vaccines that we have are effective to fight against COVID-19,” she said.
Montañer reminded the public to avoid sharing fake news regarding COVID-19 and to share only correct information as she urged them to take advantage of the government’s vaccination program in their localities.
She said most local government units are already catering the A4 priority group including the economic front liners, persons who have high levels of interaction with the public, and also those living or working in areas with dense economic activity.
“Hindi na po dapat tayo mamimili na mag-antay kay Janssen kay Moderna or kay Pfizer. So Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, and what is available on hand is the best vaccine to prevent against COVID-19 infection," she added. (PGFruylan/PIA-Gensan)
