The government must change the parameters of alert level systems since it is impossible to reach alert level zero, with very little percentage of people availing boosters.
Rep. Angelica Natasha Co of BHW Partylist and vice chair of committee on public accounts urged the government to change theCOVID-19 alert level system and change the parameters for level zero "as it is now unattainable for so long as boosting levels remain low."
It is time for a new chapter in our country's COVID-19 response, she said in a press statement.
"Alert Level Zero is impossible to achieve under current conditions, unless we are able to convince hardcore anti-vaxxers and vax holdouts to reverse and get vaxxed."
If the anti-vaxxers and holdouts are not swayed in great numbers in the next few months, then the only fallback is to let all hospitals and doctors give the vaccines to those who want them.
The Food and Drug Administration should finally issue full approval to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines which have been clearly proven to be the best against COVID.
Perhaps the incoming administration may have ways to convince more people to get vaccinated.
It seems the country has achieved enough levels of immunity for most of the population. This much is clear.
The only ones most vulnerable are those in the A1, A2, and A3 categories. The rest keep on resisting because getting vaxxed is not mandatory for everyone. They resist despite the fact the vaccines are safe.
New outbreaks are still possible while new variants and mutations arise, but no longer likely to reach past high levels, she explained.
Moving forward, VACCINE SECURITY must be the new priority with ample stockpiles and local production of all needed vaccines, not just the ones against COVID.
We also need vaccines for the diseases which affect livestock such as swine, chickens, cattle, fish, seafood. We also need countermeasures against diseases that ravage crops and trees. For these we need new defenses, institutions, systems, and processes.
Vaccine security must be a crucial part of the new normal from now on.
Tags: #COVID19, #levelzero, #health