An infectious diseases expert urged the public to get their booster shots following the detection of the new BQ.1 variant in the country.
Dr. Rontgene Solante said that the new variant is believed to be more contagious and could evade the vaccine protection than other variants.
The Health Department announced on Friday the 14 new cases of the BQ.1 variant in the countey.
“Kasi the longer you are from getting the vaccine, mas matagal ka nang nakatanggap ng primary vaccine series mo, tapos wala kang booster dose, mas lalo kang vulnerable sa mga bagong mutations na ‘to ng COVID-19,” Solante told ABS-CBN News.
Solante said vaccination helped to maintain the number of cases in the country.
“Pero ganoon pa man, yung mga vulnerable population, may mga comorbidities, or yung mga nakatanggap ng primary vaccine series na hindi pa naka-booster, we encourage you to get the vaccine para at least masaya ang Christmas niyo at walang magkahawaan sa bahay niyo, at also protecting against the severe infection,” he added.
Solante also said that public schools should also promote vaccination.
“The government will be having the National Vaccination Day, I think December 5-7. Pagkakataon na ‘to ‘no, na we need to encourage everyone to get the booster kung hindi pa sila nakakuha ng booster for us to prepare na pag medyo magpasko na, at least dagdag protection na hindi tayo magka-severe infection,” he added.
