City health experts: Herd immunity will take years to achieve

HEALTH experts in Cagayan de Oro City said Friday, February 19, that herd immunity in the city will not be achieved immediately with just a one-time Covid-19 vaccination rollout.

"Remember that the vaccination schedule for the Philippines will run for around three years. Gikan karon hangtod 2024 pa," Acting City Health Officer Dr. Lorraine Nery said.

"So meaning, dili sya ingon na pag first nga hugna, ato na dayon i-achieve ang herd immunity," she added.

Nery has likened the Covid-19 vaccination program to that of the expanded program in immunization for measles and polio, which ran for a long time until 85 percent of the city's population has been given the measles and polio vaccine.

"It doesn't mean nga sa isa ka pag-roll out nato sa atong vaccination, ma-achieve na dyon na ang herd immunity," Nery said.

Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) Research and Development Department Chief Dr. Gina Itchon echoed Nery's statement, saying that another factor why the herd immunity will not be achieved in just one year is the constant increase in the city's population.

City epidemiologist Dr. Joselito Retuya, for his part, said the Department of Health has already calendared the timeline for the vaccination program, which will take up to three years.

"By that time, pwede na sila maka mathematically compute nga ang Pilipinas has already achieved herd immunity kay at least 65 to 75 percent na of the population has been vaccinated," Retuya said.