MEMBERS of the Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) have stressed the need to vaccinate more senior citizens and persons with pre-existing medical conditions, who are at higher risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Data from the National Vaccine Operations Center showed that the vaccination rates for priority groups A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) remained low.

As of June 27, 2021, only about 24 percent of the estimated 9.4 million senior citizens in the country and less than 18 percent of the 14.5 million persons with comorbidities nationwide have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Only 2,288,221 senior citizens, or 24 percent (roughly one in four), have received at least one dose while 672,602 returned for the booster or second dose.

“We need to get the A2 vaccination rates up. I’m calling on all the seniors, if vaccines are available in your area and they’re distributed there, please register and get vaccinated,” Dr. Isagani Padolina, a member of the VEP and head of the research division of Pascual Laboratories, said in a recent media forum.

Among the individuals with comorbidities, NVOC said 2,566,460 million or over 17 percent, have received at least one dose. Those who returned for the booster shot reached only 710,846 as of June 27.

Groups A2 and A3 became eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine on March 27, nearly a month after vaccinations started for healthcare workers under group A1 on March 1.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, another VEP member and head of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of the San Lazaro Hospital, said the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities are still being prioritized over the younger population.

He acknowledged a plan to include the 12 to 17 age bracket in the Covid-19 vaccination program, but this is not a priority at present.

“Covid in minors is not as deadly as in the elderly. There are more mortalities among the vulnerable population. There’s a plan to inoculate the minors but not at this time because of the limited supply of vaccines,” Solante said.

Earlier, epidemiologist Dr. John Wong presented data showing that 81 percent of Covid-19 deaths in the country came from the A2 and A3 groups.

The mortality rate for senior citizens is highest at 80 out of 100,000. For non-elderly with comorbidities, the mortality rate is 15 out of 100,000.

He said vaccinating these two groups would prevent at least 80 percent of deaths.

The Philippines marked a milestone in its vaccination program on June 27, when the total doses administered breached 10 million.

As of June 27, first dose inoculations in the country have reached 7,538,128. Of these, 2,527,286 have also been given the second dose. The total doses administered in the country went up to 10,065,414.

For priority group A1, a total of 1,669,660 have received at least one dose while 1,131,498 have completed the two doses. This group includes healthcare workers, mayors and governors.

For group A4, 829,662 have received the first dose while 12,340 have also received the second dose. Vaccinations for A4 kicked off only on June 7. This group includes workers who need to physically report for work, government employees, police and military.

Group A5, which consists of the indigent population, is eligible to receive the Covax vaccines. As of June 27, 184,125 persons under this category have received one dose. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)