Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, over three thousand qualified patients availed of the bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 as of July 28, 2023, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government has administered the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine to 3,026 people while its number of active cases totaled two.
Data from the city government showed that as of July 28, there were 2,139 people who received the Pfizer bivalent vaccine under the A1 category or healthcare workers and overseas Filipino workers who will be deployed within the next four months.
In addition, 866 senior citizens under the A2 category were administered the vaccine while 21 under A3 (adults with comorbidities and pregnant women) received it.
Eligible people can get the third booster dose at least four months after getting their second booster shot.
On the other hand, Muntinlupa’s active Covid-19 cases totaled two as of July 31, an increase of one case from the July 24 tally.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? If you are a qualified patient, do you intend to avail of the bivalent vaccine shot for COVID-19? Do you consider COVID-19 a serious problem locally?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
It has been more than three years since a national emergency was declared in response to COVID-19 and in a recent ambush interview, new Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa said he would recommend the lifting of the nation’s emergency, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Monday that he would recommend lifting the country’s COVID-19 state of public health emergency.
In an ambush interview, Herbosa stressed that COVID-19 no longer posed an emergency and could be treated as any other disease that the Department of Health (DOH) monitors, like influenza, cough, and cold.
“Actually, wala nang emergency eh, ‘di ba? (there is no longer an emergency). I think I would actually ask the lifting of the public health emergency in the country,” he said.
Then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of public health emergency during the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
Under Proclamation 922, the state of public health emergency would remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President.
In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 no longer represented a global health emergency.
Herbosa, however, said that the alert level system would remain.
“The alert level system will stay because that’s a system like the typhoon signal that stays. But actually hindi na siya (that’s no longer a) public health emergency. Wala nang (there’s no) public health emergency,” he added.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you believe that COVID-19 itself is no longer the tremendous health problem it used to be?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 are being distributed in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions here in the Philippines, according to a news report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Specifically, the patients who are qualified to receive the shots are the elderly, individuals with co-morbidity, and health care workers.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of Health (DOH) has begun distributing the 390,000 bivalent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines donated by the Lithuanian government.
“As we speak, I think they have already been redistributed to the different region(al offices) of the Department of Health,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a Palace press briefing on Tuesday.
Herbosa noted that most of the jabs went to the National Capital Region while the rest were distributed to the other regions.
The elderly, individuals with co-morbidity, and health care workers will be prioritized in the administration of the bivalent vaccines as booster shots.
The prioritized population must be vaccinated immediately as the bivalent doses only have a six-month shelf-life upon delivery.
“So, kapag binili mo iyan (if you buy them) out of the shelf, like this one, this donation, they end on November 23, that’s the expiry date,” he said.
Although the World Health Organization has already declared an end to Covid-19 as a public health emergency, Herbosa emphasized that the public must not be complacent in its fight against the virus and get vaccinated or receive booster shots.
He explained that getting infected could still lead to death, especially among individuals with co-morbidity.
Acknowledging that the donated doses are not enough, he said the DOH is negotiating to acquire more donations and considering procurement of additional jabs.
However, there are “snags and issues,” which may slow down the procurement process, he said.
“So, the issue of the vaccine is in terms of the EUA (emergency use authorization). So, to procure it, kailangan ma-i-rehistro sa ating (they have to be registered with the) FDA (Food and Drug Administration). But, we are trying hard to get all these bivalent (vaccines),” he said.
Earlier, the DOH reported that 1.002 million doses of Pfizer’s bivalent jabs from the COVAX Facility would arrive in March.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you qualified to receive a third booster shot? Has your local government been distributing the bivalent vaccines?
In the latest development regarding COVID-19 here in the Philippines, it was reported via the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the guidelines regarding 2nd booster shots for members of the general population have been approved. Specifically, the Department of Health (DOH) referred to healthy adults at least 18-years-old can avail of the said booster shots and there are three specific COVID-19 vaccines to be used.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The guidelines on the administration of the second booster of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines for the general population have been signed.
The vaccines to be used as second booster shots are AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer.
“We already signed the guidelines nitong isang araw lamang at eto po ay ipapakalat na sa ating mga (just the other day and we’ll disseminate this to our) local government units,” Department of Health Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said during a media forum on Tuesday.
The jabs would be given to all healthy adults aged 18 years old and above.
“Pwede rin pong ibigay sa mga buntis at saka (They may also be given to pregnant and) lactating women of 18 years old and above,” she said. “Maaari rin po ibigay sa (They may also be given to) immunocompromised populations 18 years old and above, regardless of their priority group classification.”
To ensure that the booster shots are accessible to the communities, Vergeire encouraged the local government units to integrate Covid-19 vaccination in their daily health programs and services in the primary health care facilities.
“Para hindi na po natin kailangan mag-upa ng mga (So that we no longer need to rent) mass vaccination sites,” she added.
As of March 20, a total of 78,443,972 or 100.44 percent of the country’s target population (78,100,578) have been vaccinated against Covid-19, including 8.7 million senior citizens, 10.2 million adolescents, and 5.6 million children.
The above report ended stating that 23,811,248 have received booster shots out of the fully vaccinated (2 shots) population.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? How many people in your local community have been waiting for the availability of 2nd booster shots? How long did they have to wait? Do you think that the DOH should tackle next the potential 5th COVID-19 shot (3rd booster shot) for people who already received two booster shots? Do you think this latest move by the DOH will prevent further COVID-19 vaccines from going to waste?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Finally, the delayed 31st Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as 31st SEA Games or Hanoi 2021) that will be hosted by the City of Hanoi in Vietnam will officially take place from May 12 to 23, 2022 as the event organizers announced recently. This is a breakthrough following the previous announcement that May 2022 would be the month of organizing the events that will lure the best athletes of Southeast Asia.
Organizers of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Vietnam announced on its website on Friday that the biennial multi-sport games postponed from last year will be held from May 12 to 23 next year.
The specific dates were posted on Vietnam’s national Olympic committee website and reported by Channel News Asia (CNA).
The Games will open three days after the Philippines holds its national elections on May 9, 2022, and according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president, Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the majority of the athletes, coaches, and officials on Team Philippines would be unable to cast their votes.
“This is one of those sacrifices of having to represent the country in an international competition,” he said in a news release.
The POC has determined a 626-athlete delegation to the Vietnam games, which will be played in the Hanoi main hub.
“The main bulk of the delegation will be leaving for Vietnam no less than a week before the opening ceremony,” Tolentino said. “This is because our athletes need to acclimatize and get the feel of the competition venues, environment, and weather.”
It gets hot in Hanoi in May, with temperatures expected to reach 34 degrees Celsius.
Hanoi hosted the SEA Games for the first time in 2003 in a December schedule when the weather was wintry, with temperatures dropping to 11 degrees Celsius in the evening.
Vietnam originally scheduled the SEAG from November 21 to December 2 last year, but was forced to postpone it due to the pandemic.
Hanoi will be the main hub with 11 other sub-venues.
Vietnam, the ANC said, has allocated a budget of about USD69 million (PHP3.45 billion) for the games, which are expected to attract nearly 20,000 participants, 7,000 of them athletes from 11 countries.
Visiting Vietnam
With regards to Vietnam, those who plan to visit the country during this pandemic should take note that recently the country opened specific tourist destinations for foreigners without the hassle of quarantine related to COVID-19. There will be specific rules and requirements that should be met in order for foreigners to be accepted. Posted below is an excerpt from the New Straits Times report. Some parts in boldface…
VIETNAM has opened up five popular tourist destinations in the country for foreign visitors to visit without quarantine.
The government said that foreigners who have either been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19, can visit the five destinations starting this month.
The Vn Express said that the move comes after Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh approved the pilot plan by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The plan will be carried out in three phases, with the first phase allowing foreign travellers to visit designated places in Vietnam’s biggest island Phu Quoc, Da Nang City, Quang Nam Province which is home to the ancient town of Hoi An, Khanh Hoa Province which is home to Nha Trang beach town, and Quang Ninh Province home to Ha Long Bay.
Authorities said that travellers must show proof of full vaccination or Covid-19 recovery, as well as a negative coronavirus test done within 72 hours before departure.
Only test results done using RT-LAMP or RT–PCR methods will be accepted.
Visitors will also need to have a medical or travel insurance that includes coverage for Covid-19 treatment worth at least US$50,000 and must book a package tour.
Children under 12 years old travelling with a parent or guardian do not require a certificate of vaccination against Covid-19.
They must also install the contact tracing IGOVN application on their smartphones and use it during their tours in Vietnam.
Although there is no quarantine requirement, visitors will be tested on the first day of arrival using a rapid antigen test and if the result is positive, they will be taken to a medical facility and the cost will be borne by the insurance company or the tour operators.
Authorities said that foreigners who want to see their families in Vietnam can register with the tour operators to do so.
The second phase of the plan is expected to take effect in January next year and it will allow tourists to travel between the five destinations allowed in the first phase.
The Express said that the third phase will see Vietnam fully reopen to foreign visitors.
However, a detailed timeline will depend on the pandemic situation in the country.
And now here is Vietnam tourism video for your viewing…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are you looking forward to the 31st SEA Games now that it has a finalized set of dates for the organizing? What is the one sport you are looking forward to watch in the Hanoi SEA Games? Are you interested to visit Vietnam anytime soon?
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