BAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) reminds the public anew that vaccination remains to be effective protection against COVID – 19, as it reports that majority of its COVID admissions are unvaccinated.
BGHMC Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Thea Pamela Cajulao, in a Kapihan media forum here, reported that for the first three week of the year (January 1 to 21), they recorded a total of 430 COVID – 19 admissions, a big increase compared to the 32 cases in December 2021 though much lesser compared to the September 2021 surge when the hospital logged 704 admissions.
For the disposition of cases, 43 percent of the BGHMC COVID – 19 patients are moderate, 21% severe and 8% critical, 21% mild cases and 8% asymptomatic.
Majority of the COVID cases are 19 to 29 years old, followed by 30 to 39 years old age bracket. BGHMC also recorded the most number of pediatric (below 18 years old) cases with 59 this month.
Cajulao also reported that 272 or 80% of BGHMC’s 340 cases are unvaccinated and of these patients, 110 are with moderate symptoms, 54 severe and 25 tagged as critical condition.
In terms of death, BGHMC recorded 28 cases in January, of which 74% were unvaccinated.
Cajulao explained that with BGHMC as a COVID – 19 referral center, it is expected that most of the patients are mild to severe and critical condition and most of the asymptomatic to mild cases are with stable co-morbidity or those who came to the hospital for clinical procedure but then tested positive.
Cajulao reminded the public anew to get themselves vaccinated and those vaccinated to get their booster shots and at the same time, continue to practice the minimum public health standards and safety protocols.
Though there are reports saying that Omicron cases are mostly mild, we cannot downplay the variant and we must not put our guards down, as most people that we live with belong to the vulnerable groups or those have pre-medical condition and the senior citizens, she stressed.
Tof Jan. 26, BGHMC has 177 active patients and with 70% bed occupancy rate.
Cajulao assured that BGHMC management is on top of the situation with a fully activated Incident Command System for more efficient and effective response. She said they have converted non COVID – 19 wards to bring the COVID – 19 dedicated bed capacity to 300, which is equivalent to 50% of the hospital’s bed capacity.
BGHMC also has enough medicine supply and we already, Cajulao added.
ned capacity to 300, which is equivalent to 50 percent of the hospital’s bed capacity, Cajulao added.
Meanwhile, Department of Health-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan is calling on still unvaccinated individuals to get themselves vaccinated and be among the more than 57 million Filipinos and more than a million Cordillerans who are already fully inoculated.
“Regardless of the variants of concern, COVID – 19 still pose threat, a danger to public health. Majority of our severe and critical cases are unvaccinated, as we have seen from the BGHMC experience. And we invite everyone to join the more than 57 million Filipinos in the country that are already vaccinated and the more than 6 million who have received their booster shots. Vaccines simply work,” Pangilinan stressed. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
