Cebu doctor says COVID-19 patients unvaccinated; waited for preferred vaccine

CEBU, Philippines —  An infectious disease expert in Cebu has disclosed that at least 26 of his patients who are admitted for COVID-19 are all unvaccinated and have comorbidities.

All of these patients reportedly waited for a vaccine they wanted but got infected with COVID-19 before they could be inoculated.

“I now have 26 moderate to severe admitted COVID patients. ALL are unvaccinated, ALL have comorbidities. Most were waiting for Pfizer. Sadly, COVID did not get the memo,” wrote Dr. Bryan Lim on Facebook.

Lim also shared that 100 percent of COVID patients at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City who are either severe or critical are also not vaccinated.  These patients are not among his 26.

“The 26 are my private patients. The patients in Sotto, lahi pud na. I also help there man pud sa charity. Tabangay ra gyud,” he told The Freeman.

He also took the opportunity to call on the public to get vaccinated with any brand that is available.

“Get yourself vaccinated with any brand! When given the opportunity, grab it. There are consequences to our actions and inactions. All we can do as health workers is warn and educate. The rest is up to you,” he said.

Lim also shared that aside from waiting for the vaccine they wanted, his patients also had other reasons why they did not want to be vaccinated yet: They believed that COVID-19 is now gone, that the virus won’t reach them at home, and that they are afraid of possible side effects. They also entertained theories that a vaccine will implant a microchip in a person’s body or that it will turn a person into a zombie.

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of the Department of Health (DOH)-7 and spokesperson of the Visayas COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center, reiterated that all vaccines are safe and effective.

Protection

Lim reminded the public that a person can be protected by the vaccine only after two weeks after the second dose – for a vaccine that requires two doses.

“Even when fully vaccinated, pwede gyapon ma-COVID but often mild only. The biggest impact gyud kay prevention of severe and critical disease,” Lim said.

Just the same, he called on those already vaccinated fully to continue practicing minimum health standards.

“Even when vaccinated, important still to practice the minimum health standards kay luoy if the fully vaccinated can unknowingly transmit the virus to others,” he told The Freeman.

He reminded the public further to also remember other infections, especially during the influenza season.

“Best to get vaccinated with the annual flu vaccine. Co-infections between COVID and other viruses and bacteria can worsen the clinical presentation,” Lim said.

Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health (DOH)-7, agrees.

She said it is better for those still waiting for their turn to get vaccinated to get an anti-flu shot.

COVID Infections

Meanwhile, Cañal called on residents of Central Visayas to step up in helping curb the upward trend in COVID-19 infections.

“Individuals should own up that responsibility to strictly implement among themselves the observance of public health measures. Our LGU can only do so much. Without the cooperation of the public, all our efforts will fail,” she said.

Based on biosurveillance, the variants of concern detected in Central Visayas are the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), Beta variant (B.1351) and Theta variant (P.3).

“No Delta variant is detected in Central Visayas as of to date,” Cañal said.

Explaining the third “wave” reference to the new infections experienced in Region 7, Cañal said, “A wave simply implies a rising number of cases. The word ‘wave’ implies a natural pattern of peaks.”

“A wave is simply a description that there is a rise in the number of cases. It is the same as a peak or a valley if you look at the epidemiologic curve… so, again, a ‘wave’ is not like a hundred or a thousand of cases appear overnight. It is a pattern of peaks,” she said. — JMO (FREEMAN)