NextGen Day

MANILA – Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the Vaccine Expert Panel, said on Wednesday that booster doses can give fully vaccinated people extra protection against the highly transmissible BA.2 form of the Omicron coronavirus strain.

Solante noted the Omicron BA.2 sublineage has the potential to induce serious infection, especially in the vulnerable group, which is prone to severe Covid-19 infection, during a virtual Laging Handa public briefing.

“And that’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Solante said in an interview, “if the increase in instances in other countries is likewise related with an increase in healthcare utilization kung saan (where it’s caused by a severe sort of BA.2.”

Similar data has not yet been observed in the Philippines, according to the country’s health authorities.

“However, it has the potential to create a severe condition, which we will be watching,” he added.

The vaccination specialist also reassured the public that the country’s current reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests can still detect the Omicron BA.2 sublineage.

“In terms of detection, that isn’t a huge issue. The difficulty with the BA.2 is that it has higher transmissibility than the BA.1 “Added he.

According to the most recent statistics, the BA.2 sublineage has no major impact on our current vaccination platforms, and the severity of infection can be minimized with booster shots, according to Solante.

“We need to encourage everyone, especially the vulnerable group, to get their booster so that their risk of contracting [BA.2 infection] is reduced,” he added. “That is also why the present immunization program will concentrate on the most susceptible populations.”

According to Solante, a variation with significant transmission risks can still infect anyone.

“However, what we want to avoid is a more severe illness, which may be avoided with a booster dose,” he continued.

The BA.2 Omicron variant is “not more severe” than the original sublineage, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but it appears to be “inherently more transmissible” than BA.1.

“Based on available data on transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, treatments, and vaccination impacts, the group reaffirmed that the BA.2 sublineage should remain a variant of concern and classed as Omicron,” according to the WHO statement.

There is no need for a fourth dose.

If the large booster administration can already control the transmission of infections throughout the country, Solante believes the fourth dose of the Covid-19 shot will be unnecessary.

“The fourth dose will now be determined by how the third booster shot performs in terms of infection control. For instance, consider the following scenario: Why do we need a fourth dose if cases continue to decline over the next three to four months to the point where they are no longer alarming? We don’t need it because the booster shot is already enough to lessen cases (nababa natin ang kaso) “Solante remarked.

He claims that with the third booster dose, data on the T lymphocytes component of the vaccine has been discovered to be “the one that will protect us against serious diseases.”

The third dose, or booster shot, will be “plenty for now,” according to Solante.

Health specialists are also gathering data on “how effective if a fourth dose would actually be advised,” he said.

Because many people have not yet got their first doses, Dr. Edsel Salvaa, a member of the Department of Health-Technical Advisory Group (DOH-TAG), previously stated that it is not yet time to administer the fourth dose or second booster shot of Covid-19 vaccine.

Prepared for Level 1 Alert

Despite a slower transmission rate and a downward trend in cases, Solante warned the public not to relax because the Omicron form is still surfacing in the country.

“Mayroon pa ring puwedeng mahawaan (There are still those who can be infected),” Solante said. “That is why, even if we transition to a lower level, dapat pa ipapanatili pa rin natin ang (we should maintain the) health protocol, particularly the wearing of the face mask, the physical distance, handwashing, and other important measures to prevent infection, particularly vaccination.”

Meanwhile, Solante stated that there has been no indication that Omicron’s stealth will have an impact on the country’s goal of relaxing limitations.

According to him, the National Capital Region (NCR) appears to be prepared to move to a more lenient Alert Level 1 position.

However, lessening limits should not lead to complacency, according to Solante.

“We will now be shifting to Alert Level 1 particularly in the NCR, but tuloy pa rin ang bakunahan, tuloy pa rin health procedure at tuloy pa rin ang pag-monitor sa mga kaso,” Solante added.

The WHO said it will keep a careful eye on the BA.2 Omicron sub-lineage and urged countries to “be watchful, monitor and report sequences, as well as perform independent and comparative assessments of the various Omicron sub-lineages.”

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