In case you’re still having second thoughts on getting jabbed, the science bears it out—the vaccines against COVID-19 work and they’re generally safe. As one doctor in this story declares: “Get vaccinated. It’s free! There’s no reason for you not to get vaccinated. You will not lose anything from it. You will not get sick. You will save yourself, your family and your friends.”
By Alex Y. Vergara
More than a year into the pandemic, the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines remains bleak—1.77 million cases and nearly 31,000 deaths. As of August 17, and despite an existing NCR-wide lockdown, the estimated number of new COVID-19 cases hit nearly 10,000, no thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant. The situation isn’t any better elsewhere, with numerous hospitals in several key cities all over the country nearly running out of beds to accommodate COVID as well as non-COVID patients.
Yet, despite this grim scenario, there’s plenty of reasons to feel hopeful. If we delve deeper and further examine the numbers, the vaccines are working! In a report aired by ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol yesterday, Aug. 18, 74 percent or more than seven out of 10 current COVID-19 patients at the Lung Center of the Philippines are unvaccinated. Doctors form other hospitals attest to this.
“The census of patients that we have for the month of August as compared to the previous surges shows us that the vaccines are working,” says Dr. Lorena Patrice “Bugs” Caslib, a trained anesthesiologist connected with St. Luke’s Medical Center-Quezon City. “A big percentage of the patients who are hospitalized aren’t vaccinated. Yes, there are vaccinated patients who are sick, but the percentage of them progressing into critical condition is minimal compared to those unvaccinated. Definitely, the quality of medical care that we provide for everyone is not different, but actually better.”
‘Pandemic of the unvaccinated‘
According to the same TV Patrol report, even the partially vaccinated are reaping some form of protection from the disease. Of the 140 COVID-19 patients admitted to the Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium from August 6 to 10, for instance, eight are partially vaccinated and 31 have already received two jabs. An overwhelming majority—101 patients—are unvaccinated!
Although vaccines aren’t a silver bullet against COVID-19, cases upon cases the world over have shown that majority of those who catch the disease and suffer from its severe consequences belong to the unvaccinated. This current state, or what the US Center for Diseases Control has aptly described a few months back as the “Pandemic of the Unvaccinated,” is attested to by the two doctors who share their experiences on the ground with PeopleAsia. At the same time, they’re also appealing for Filipinos to have themselves vaccinated.
Dr. Caslib was cited last year by this magazine as one of its “Women of Style and Substance.” Before resuming full-time work as an anesthesiologist a few months ago, she was one of St. Luke’s resident doctors who directly attended to COVID-19 patients, often intubating one patient after another as soon as cases began to rise dramatically early last year.
“Unlike last year, we are luckier now that we have adequate scientific studies that support the use of certain drugs for COVID,” Dr. Caslib continues. “Along with more data and experience, the doctors are more confident in managing cases, which leads to higher chances of survival among our patients.”
Mild to moderate cases
“Vaccination has greatly helped us. We have noticed a drop in the number of cases that are in critical condition. Yes, each day, the number of cases go up. But the bulk of it are mild to moderate cases. Unlike last year, our ICU rooms would be filled with more patients than our regular COVID rooms. More people are now surviving the disease,” says Dr. Caslib.
Still, she adds, the level of vigilance in hospitals is still high. “We’re quite worried about the new variants such as Delta and Lambda that have breached our borders. We are actually battling against time. We need to vaccinate more people at a faster rate in order for us to stop the spread of the new variants that are becoming more resistant to the available and approved vaccines.”
Dr. Cecille de Guzman, a neurologist connected with such hospitals as World Citi Medical Center, Las Piñas Doctors Hospital and Medical Center Taguig, echoes Dr Caslib’s observations.
“This surge brought about by the Delta variant is much more scary,” says Dr. De Guzman. “All of us can still be infected, but the unvaccinated are more at risk. Vaccination has definitely helped. There are lower cases of severe COVID among people who are fully vaccinated.”
At the same time, Dr. De Guzman, at every available opportunity, is actively convincing those who are still in doubt or afraid to have themselves vaccinated to do so ASAP. It has become imperative and a moral obligation for everyone, she says.
“The medical community is trying to cope with this surge, but we need everyone to also do their share because the number of healthcare workers is dwindling by the day due to physical, emotional and mental fatigue. And many are also getting sick themselves,” the doctor warns.
Dr. Caslib has also expressed her concern for children, including teenagers, who have yet to be included in the government’s vaccination program.
Younger patients
“I am actually more worried about our children. The Delta variant does infect our children. I have seen more and more young patients in the ER who are having difficulty breathing. It’s not fair for them to suffer a disease that can be prevented by vaccines, social distancing and hand washing,” she says.
So, armed with lessons learned from the past year, how can Filipinos best fight and live with this virus?
“Get vaccinated! But never let your guard down and continue to adhere to such standard practices as physical distancing, wearing of face masks and shields. And, for the time being, definitely no gatherings,” says Dr. De Guzman.
Dr. Caslib offers similar advice. “Simply, mask up, wash hands and still do social distancing. We have been doing these for many months already so there’s no reason for us to stop just yet.”
And, finally, Dr. Caslib adds: “Get vaccinated. It”s free! There’s no reason for you not to get vaccinated. You will not lose anything from it. You will not get sick. You will save yourself, your family and your friends. Be informed and educate yourself. We are all fighting the same battle. We all want this to be over.”
