Recovering from COVID-19 pandemic

By Dr. Rex Casiple

 

The vital point in controlling a viral or bacterial threat is known as “herd immunity”. To reach “herd immunity”, 70 percent to 90 percent of the population needed to have antibodies. Epidemiologists have said from the beginning of the pandemic that a vaccine is the only true way to resume much of life.

Hence, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic started from the availability of vaccines and the vaccination programs of several countries around the world. Vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection.  However, it is observed that the roll-out of these vaccines is unacceptably slow. And for the time being, the vaccinated people still need to wear masks, avoid indoor crowds, respect social distancing and so on.

The United States vaccinations started slowly in December 2020. The United States has vaccinated more people than any other country. Israel, the United Kingdom and small countries have vaccinated a larger percentage of their residents but their vaccination rates are far lower than the United States figures.  None of these countries that started with their vaccination program has reached “herd immunity”.   Furthermore, the New York Times reported that at least 30 countries in the world have not yet been injected coronavirus vaccine to a single person.

Lockdowns also have helped us in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries around the world turned to lockdowns to help stop or slow down the transmission of the coronavirus. Studies showed that those who are able to participate in the lockdowns benefit more from them than those who have to work in high-risk environments. However, like vaccines, lockdowns also cannot guarantee 100% effectiveness in eliminating the risk of exposure to coronavirus. People need to go out to buy food, medicine or go shopping or grocery.

In the Philippines, the national vaccination program started in March 2021 or almost a month ago. The national vaccination program started with the availability of Sinovac’s Vaccine from China.

Another sign of the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is the gradual reopening of colleges and universities for limited face-to-face classes. Twenty-three (23) colleges and universities in the country were initially allowed to conduct limited face to face classes beginning the second semester of this academic year (AY) 2020-2021.

Four (4) of these higher education institutions (HEIs) are from Western Visayas Region: West Visayas State University, Central Philippine University, University of Iloilo-PHINMA and Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine. Priority was given to health-related programs, preferably, Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health and Midwifery.

Third- and fourth-year students enrolled in these programs were allowed for hands-on training and laboratory classes to achieve key learning outcomes on specialized laboratory courses and hospital-based clinical clerkship/internship/practicum and to provide additional manpower to the country’s health system.

Seventeen (17) HEIs in the country with retrofitted facilities and have safe spaces offered their facilities to serve as vaccination sites of local government units (LGUs). Two (2) of these HEIs are from Western Visayas: the West Visayas State University and Central Philippine University.

Other HEIs were also encouraged to offer their facilities during the expanded vaccination of senior citizens, essential workers, teachers and government personnel. LGUs were requested to include in their vaccination program the HEIs faculty, staff and students who will be assisting in their vaccination drive. This LGU-HEI partnership is in response to the call of our country and our people to fight against COVID-19 pandemic and to recover as one.

HAPPY 20^TH ANNIVERSARY DAILY GUARDIAN!