THE Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) reported that more than 98 percent of the recorded Covid-19 deaths are those unvaccinated.

According to the vaccination status of death cases in the region from March 1 to November 15, 2021, out of the 2,342 recorded deaths in the said period, 2,305 or 98.42 percent are unvaccinated.

Based on the breakdown of those unvaccinated who succumbed to the virus, 809 of them were asymptomatic, 512 had mild cases, 412 became severe, and 572 were in critical state.

DOH-Davao also recorded 14 deaths among those partially vaccinated, and 23 deaths of those fully vaccinated.

Among the fully vaccinated, five of them got infected 14 days before receiving their second dose, while 10 deaths got infected less than 14 days after receiving their second dose. Eight others are still under validation.

Meanwhile, DOH-Davao Assistant Regional Director Lenny Joy Rivera said since the vaccination rollout started in March 2021, the region has not recorded a single vaccine-related death.

Rivera said the Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) committee are responsible for validating reports on deaths possibly linked to the vaccine.

"Pero wala pong nakikitang datos na may relasyon po ito dun sa ating (We do not see in our data that the recorded deaths have a link to the Covid-19) vaccine. Mostly they die due to the Covid[-19] virus itself," Rivera said.

The health official said the vaccine protection would develop 14 days after the vaccine was jabbed.

Rivera, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of achieving the 70-percent herd immunity, as this would protect the remaining population that remains unvaccinated, including age groups below 11 years old.

As of November 15, she said only 41.93 percent of the targeted herd immunity in the region were fully vaccinated.

Dr. Janis Olavides, DOH-Davao vaccination team leader, said in a previous virtual presser that 60.5 percent of the 3.7 million targeted for herd immunity remains unvaccinated.