THE Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-Davao) said most of the Covid-related deaths in the region are senior citizens.
Dr. Gerna M. Manatad, assistant regional director of DOH-Davao, said as of February 19, 2022, the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the region is already at 4,172.
Of this number, senior citizens belonging to the age group 70 years old and above recorded a total of 1,171 deaths while the age group of 60 to 69 years old recorded 1,122 deaths.
Another vulnerable age group, children between the ages of zero to four years old, reported a total of 76 deaths.
“In the extreme ages, the very young and the very old, we can really see the vulnerabilities,” Manatad said during a virtual press conference on February 21.
Senior citizens are among the vulnerable sectors that can be badly affected by Covid-19 due to age and pre-existing illnesses that the coronavirus may further complicate.
Also, the age group 50 to 59 years old recorded 878 deaths, followed by 470 deaths from the 40-49 age group, 252 deaths from the 30-39 group, 152 deaths from the young age group of 18-29 years old.
The least recorded deaths were from two minor age groups specifically the five to 11 years old which tallied 21 deaths, and 30 deaths among children aged 12 to 17 years old.
Because of the high fatality among senior citizens and the working population, DOH-Davao previously said they will be prioritizing the vaccination of the senior citizens and administration of booster doses.
“The rest of the adult population really is recommended to have the booster shots, as well as to increase the vaccination for our senior citizens,” Dr. Janis Olavides said, focal person of the Covid-19 Vaccination Program of DOH-Davao, during a press conference last February 4.
“Daghan kaso sa Covid, it’s hitting the senior citizen sa mga deaths nato (Many senior citizens die because of Covid-19) that’s why we have to strengthen the vaccination again for the 60 years old and above,” Olavides added.