MANILA, Philippines — Five more doctors who treated COVID-19 patients in different Metro Manila hospitals were themselves admitted for severe breakthrough infections, said an infectious diseases specialist who is part of the government’s experts panel.
Dr. Rontgene Solante, also an officer of the Philippine College of Physicians, did not identify the five physicians, but he said they were fully vaccinated with Sinovac.
Solante has stressed in earlier media appearances that vaccines are known to wane through time, but he said a study in Thailand suggests that Sinovac becomes weaker sooner than others and should soon be followed by booster shots.
He said he was only coming out with this information to appeal for prayers for the doctors and nurses, who have had breakthrough infections during the current surge.
When asked how alarming the situation was, Solante said in a Viber message: “If more than five [doctors] is a lot, then that’s [it].”
But Eric Domingo, chief of the Food And Drug Administration, disputed Solante’s rant against Sinovac and said there were not enough evidence to suggest that one vaccine brand was more vulnerable to breakthrough infections than others.
Domingo said that out of 13.87 million fully vaccinated Filipinos, there were only 242 breakthrough cases, or 0.0017 percent of the total.
In the United States, where there were 156 million fully vaccinated in April when the data was taken, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were only 153,000 cases, or 0.098 percent of the total.
The US vaccination program uses mostly drugs made in the United States and does not utilize Chinese vaccines due to its ongoing trade war.
Solante conceded that he also believes that Sinovac is an effective vaccine for the general population, but the healthcare community was at greater risk of breakthrough infections and should be prioritized in getting booster shots.
“We all need to drive an important message that vaccines continue to protect us from severe infections, and to prevent [ourselves] from getting infected we need to follow the health protocols, always,” he said.
He said it was not a question of whether to administer booster shots, but rather when and to whom it should first be given, considering the global supply shortage.
“The government is preparing for boosters. Eventually, we will need boosters,” Solante said in a radio interview on Sunday.
He said studies were underway to see which among the currently available vaccines was the most beneficial as a third dose.
FROM: INQUIRER.NET
Dr. Rontgene Solante, also an officer of the Philippine College of Physicians, did not identify the five physicians, but he said they were fully vaccinated with Sinovac.
Solante has stressed in earlier media appearances that vaccines are known to wane through time, but he said a study in Thailand suggests that Sinovac becomes weaker sooner than others and should soon be followed by booster shots.
He said he was only coming out with this information to appeal for prayers for the doctors and nurses, who have had breakthrough infections during the current surge.
When asked how alarming the situation was, Solante said in a Viber message: “If more than five [doctors] is a lot, then that’s [it].”
But Eric Domingo, chief of the Food And Drug Administration, disputed Solante’s rant against Sinovac and said there were not enough evidence to suggest that one vaccine brand was more vulnerable to breakthrough infections than others.
Domingo said that out of 13.87 million fully vaccinated Filipinos, there were only 242 breakthrough cases, or 0.0017 percent of the total.
In the United States, where there were 156 million fully vaccinated in April when the data was taken, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were only 153,000 cases, or 0.098 percent of the total.
The US vaccination program uses mostly drugs made in the United States and does not utilize Chinese vaccines due to its ongoing trade war.
Solante conceded that he also believes that Sinovac is an effective vaccine for the general population, but the healthcare community was at greater risk of breakthrough infections and should be prioritized in getting booster shots.
“We all need to drive an important message that vaccines continue to protect us from severe infections, and to prevent [ourselves] from getting infected we need to follow the health protocols, always,” he said.
He said it was not a question of whether to administer booster shots, but rather when and to whom it should first be given, considering the global supply shortage.
“The government is preparing for boosters. Eventually, we will need boosters,” Solante said in a radio interview on Sunday.
He said studies were underway to see which among the currently available vaccines was the most beneficial as a third dose.
FROM: INQUIRER.NET
