DOH: COVID vaccines remain effective vs new variant
Filipinos who received a full dose of COVID-19 vaccines at the height of the pandemic from 2021 to 2023 are still protected from the newest variant of the infectious disease that causes “razor-blade” sore throats.
“It seems the COVID-19 vaccines that were administered years before are still effective. So if you are vaccinated during the previous COVID-19 pandemic, then you are still protected,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said at a Palace press briefing on Thursday.
According to data from the Food and Drug Administration, there were 78,443,972 fully vaccinated individuals as of June 2024, or 70 percent of the country’s 112 million population.
New variant
The Department of Health (DOH) has not yet monitored the presence of the new NB.1.8.1 COVID-19 variant in the country.
Herbosa ordered the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine to conduct genome sequencing on samples from recently confirmed COVID-19 patients to determine if the new variant has been already circulating in the country.
Nicknamed “Nimbus” by scientists, the NB.1.8.1 may cause painful sore throats, on top of other COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell.
NB.1.8.1 is an Omicron-descendent lineage derived from the recombinant variant XDV.1.5.1. It was first detected in Asia in January this year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) designated NB.1.8.1 as among the six variants under monitoring, and considered the public health risk it posed as “low” at the global level.
While still low in numbers, a rise in cases late in May was primarily seen in the Western Pacific region, where the Philippines belong, as well as in the Americas, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Still effective
The WHO said the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are “expected to remain effective to this variant against symptomatic and severe disease.”
“Despite a concurrent increase in cases and hospitalizations in some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, current data do not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness than other variants in circulation,” it added.
Herbosa said the DOH Epidemiology Bureau is monitoring COVID-19 cases in the country, as a possible surge might coincide with the rainy season when influenza-like illnesses also increase.
Based on the DOH’s latest data, COVID-19 infections in the country still remain at a low level, with 1,774 cases recorded from Jan. 1 to May 3, or 87 percent lower compared to the 14,074 cases during the same period last year.
Unlike the situation in other Asian countries, such as Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Thailand, recent local trends indicated a slight slowdown in COVID-19 cases over the past three to four weeks.
The DOH has not addressed plans for testing suspected COVID-19 patients as part of its increased surveillance.
It also has not commented on inquiries whether it will resume its vaccination drive that stopped in 2023, following the lifting of the state of national public health emergency due to COVID-19.
No budget for COVID-19
The agency did not have line items for testing and COVID-19 vaccinations in its 2025 budget. During the surge of “FliRT” COVID-19 variants last year, the DOH said it could reallocate unused funds from its current budget or tap continuing appropriations from its previous year’s budget.
Under the WHO’s testing guidelines as of December 2024, member countries are urged to test suspected cases early in the disease course, especially among people at increased risk for hospitalization or severe COVID-19.
Seniors, pregnant women
Meanwhile, the WHO does not advise routine vaccinations for healthy adults and adolescents who already received at least a full dose of COVID-19 vaccination.
Vaccinations are recommended from six to 12 months after the last dose for senior citizens and persons with moderate and severe immunocompromising conditions.
Pregnant women are recommended to receive a single dose in each pregnancy regardless of pregnancy status, ideally during the second trimester.
Health-care workers with direct patient contact are also urged to get their vaccines around 12 months after their previous dose.
