Nearly all COVID infections, deaths were unvaccinated folks

Forty-five (45) COVID-19 deaths logged in Iloilo City on September 1-25, 2021 were unvaccinated, based on data from the Iloilo City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU).

The COVID-19 death toll in the city from Jan. 1 to Sept. 18 totaled 334, or a 2.48% case fatality rate. The number includes 303 fatalities who were unvaccinated.

Due to the high risk of mortality for unvaccinated individuals, Mayor Jerry Treñas again appealed to the public to have themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.

“In the ongoing outbreak, it is unfortunate that deaths are constantly being recorded.  The risks of comorbidity have increased to those unvaccinated, especially those who have comorbidities. The Iloilo City Government is encouraging everyone to take part in our vaccination program to protect yourselves and your loved ones,” he said in a statement.

The Iloilo City government has intensified its vaccination rollout to achieve herd immunity.

Iloilo City is currently the fastest among the areas in Western Visayas in terms of its vaccination rollout.

According to the Department of Health in Western Visayas (DOH-6), the city has already fully vaccinated 71.24 percent of its population, equivalent to 238,779 individuals.

The city government has also opened its vaccination effort to non-residents, particularly those from the neighboring provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras.

The mayor has announced on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 that the city will open its vaccination on Friday for persons from other provinces.

“On Friday, we will open the vaccination for persons from other provinces using Astrazeneca vaccines. Please bring your IDs,” he said.

Interested individuals who wish to avail of the free vaccines on Friday may go to the following vaccination sites, Megaworld and SM City Iloilo in Mandurriao district and University of San Agustin in City Proper.

Vaccination will start 8 am.

 

‘ALARM BELLS’

Meanwhile, Bacolod City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang, concurrent EOC executive director and COVID-19 Vaccination Council (CoVaC) coordinator urged Bacolodnons to get vaccinated with the increase in COVID related deaths.

Ang sounded the alarm bells Tuesday, as the rate of infections continues to rise.

Comparative data presented by the EOC as of this writing are also doubly alarming after Ang pointed out that the current figure on COVID deaths stands at 122 against the year-ago level of only 76 at the end of September 30, 2020.

“Our number of deaths this year as of September 28, 2021 almost doubled and we are averaging 109 infections daily. Our health frontliners are pointing out that those experiencing severe COVID cases in hospitals are those who remain unvaccinated,” Ang said.

Ang said that the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases has put the focus back on prevention. She stressed that a major worry right now is Delta, a highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus strain.

“This continued rise in cases is happening despite our round-the-clock efforts to give COVID jabs. The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates, and virtually all hospitalizations and deaths have been among the unvaccinated,” according to CHO OIC Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr.

EOC Deputy for Medical Dr. Chris Sorongon assured Bacolodnons of higher chances of surviving the pandemic if they are inoculated.

Ang recalled that a 73-year-old fully vaccinated patient stricken with COVID survived the virus while her 35- and 39-year-old unvaccinated sons, who apparently looked healthier, succumbed to the disease.

“We, in the city government and EOC, therefore, are reiterating this appeal: Go get the vaccine now,” Mayor Evelio Leonardia stressed.

 

INFECTION RATE

To illustrate the seriousness of the situation, Dr. Rosalie Deocampo, EOC deputy for contact-tracing cluster, shared that on September 25, Bacolod had 140 infections, 90 of which were household transmissions, while 36 cases were of unknown origin.

Of the same total, she said, 75 were classified as new cases, while 65 were close contacts.

Six were infected at their workplace, 7 from gatherings or meetings outside of their household and 1 prison infection.

On September 26, the city had 133 cases, 69 of which were new infections and 64 were close contacts, Deocampo explained.

Of the 133, some 92 cases were household infections, 41 were outside transmissions, 3 from the workplace, 36 were not known and 2 from hospital infections.

Last Monday, September 27, Deocampo disclosed that there were 151 cases, of which 60 were new cases, while 91 were close contacts.

COVID spreads right in our own homes, Deocampo said, pointing out that on September 27, about 110 were household transmissions, 41 originated from outside, 27 were not known, 2 from workplace, 3 from gatherings or meetings, 4 from hospital, 1 from dialysis center and 3 from prison.

 

CLASSES, VACCINE HESITANCY

Another area of concern raised by Ang is the upcoming face-to-face classes for the incoming school year.

The EOC and the Bacolod CoVaC, in coordination with the Department of Education’s City Schools Division headed by Gladys Amelaine Sales, made an effort to give jabs to over 700 unvaccinated teachers two Saturdays ago.

To the EOC and CoVaC’s dismay, Ang continued, only 45 showed up for inoculation.

Our concern now is the schoolchildren who are unprotected as we cannot yet administer COVID jabs for them.

She also lamented that many residents have become vulnerable to “fake news” that they read on various social media platforms like Facebook that says that those who got the vaccine will become zombies.

Ang reminded Bacolodnons that like everything in life, this is an ongoing risk assessment. If it is raining and you’ll be outdoors, you bring an umbrella. If you are in a crowded gathering, potentially with unvaccinated people, you put your mask on and keep social distancing. If you are unvaccinated and eligible for the vaccine, the best thing you can do is to get vaccinated.

Recent studies show that people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to have strong protection compared to those who aren’t.

These false claims and fake news, add up to people’s hesitancy to get the vaccine, she added. (ERS/DSY/Bacolod City PIO)