COVID-19 vaccines

DOH: COVID-19 vaccines remain effective vs Delta variant

Sofia Tomacruz

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DOH: COVID-19 vaccines remain effective vs Delta variant

PROTECTION. A healthcare worker prepares to administer the Pfizer anti-COVID19 vaccine to residents of Barangay Apolonio Samson in Quezon City on June 21 2021.

Rappler

'We are still sure that it (vaccination) is going to protect us from severe infections and hospitalizations. Let us not be doubtful,' says Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire

The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that available coronavirus vaccines continue to remain effective against the Delta COVID-19 variant that is becoming globally dominant because of its increased transmissibility. 

In a press briefing on Monday, June 21, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire likewise urged all individuals part of eligible COVID-19 vaccine priority groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“The WHO (World Health Organization) and our experts are saying even if these variants affect our vaccines, it does not mean that their efficacies against symptomatic infections are now 0%,” Vergeire said in a mix of English and Filipino. 

“We are still sure that it (vaccination) is going to protect us from severe infections and hospitalizations. Let us not be doubtful. Let us give that confidence for our vaccines. This is one key to ensure we are all protected against this Delta variant,” she added.

Delta, the COVID-19 variant first detected in India, has fueled concern across nations where a rise in cases has been seen in recent weeks. It was formerly called the Indian variant, and was later renamed by the WHO using the Greek alphabet, along with other variants, to prevent stigma.

Vaccines hold up vs variants

Citing experts’ findings, Vergeire said that while variants have affected the efficacy of vaccines against preventing symptomatic COVID-19, getting vaccinated is still one of the best ways to stop the Delta variant. 

Data from the United Kingdom showed that only one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca’s vaccine provided 33% protection against symptomatic disease caused by the Delta variant, but that strong protection was seen with the completion of full two doses. 

“This means that you can still experience symptoms if you are infected, even if you received one dose,” Vergeire said in Filipino. 

The same data also showed that Pfizer’s vaccine provided 79% protection against infection with the Delta variant two weeks after receiving the second dose, while protection was at 92% against the Alpha variant. 

Aside from Pfizer, Vergeire said studies also showed that two doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine provided 92% protection against hospitalization triggered by the Delta variant and that no deaths occurred among those fully vaccinated. 

As for other vaccines, real world studies have demonstrated their effectiveness against COVID-19 variants, Vergeire added. “Real world studies are now available and even Sinovac and Gamaleya have shown good performance in these studies,” she said. 

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The WHO earlier reported that the Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant variant of the disease. 

The variant has gained attention and concern because of its worrying traits, including higher-risk hospitalization and prolonged hospital stay. 

In the United Kingdom, cases of the Delta variant have made up 90% of new infections. In the United States, 10% of the cases were attributed to it.

The Delta variant is also believed to have contributed to the deadly surge of infections in India, crippling its health system. – Rappler.com

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Sofia Tomacruz

Sofia Tomacruz covers defense and foreign affairs. Follow her on Twitter via @sofiatomacruz.