As PH detects Omicron BQ.1

FOLLOWING the detection of COVID-19 Omicron BQ.1 sublineage in the country, Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted as well as continued vigilance in combating a threat like COVID-19.

“Huwag ho tayong maging kumpiyansa. Habang nandiriyan po ang COVID (dahil) nagmu-mutate po ito,” said Go in an ambush interview after personally aiding residents in Malalag, Davao del Sur on Saturday, November 26.

“Hindi naman natin alam kung gaano kalakas ito, deadly ba itong (bagong variant). Ngunit habang nandiriyan si COVID, delikado. Huwag maging kumpiyansa,” he added.

Health officials announced Friday that they had detected the “highly transmissible and immune-evasive” Omicron BQ.1 sublineage in the country. The Department of Health has confirmed 14 new cases of BQ.1.

Thirteen of these were detected in the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, and Central Visayas. The DOH noted that these cases amounted to 0.03% of the total number of Omicron subvariants in the country.

The August COVID-19 wave that hit the country may have been caused by BQ.1, a sublineage of BA.5 that branches off from Omicron, according to the Philippine Genome Center.

When compared to the other Omicron subvariants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are said to be more contagious and immune-evasive.

Meanwhile, Go urged Filipinos to get vaccinated and boost their immunity as soon as possible, saying that research shows that vaccinated people experience fewer severe symptoms from the virus.

“Paigtingin po natin ang ating pagpapabakuna. Ang bakuna po ang tanging susi o solusyon para unti-unti na tayong makabalik sa ating normal na pamumuhay. ‘Pag qualified na ho kayo sa booster, magpabooster na po tayo kaysa naman po masayang itong mga bakuna at nae-expire po,” said Go.

“Gamitin po ito, suyurin po ang mga hindi pa bakunado,” he added.

Go also reminded Filipinos once more that they should not be content with merely receiving initial vaccination shots because an additional booster dose, once they were eligible for it, would likewise provide them with an additional layer of protection against COVID-19.

“Ang baba po ng ating booster vaccination rate, sa ngayon — 26% lang po sa 1st dose. Ang dami pang hindi nagpapabakuna. Huwag ho kayong maging kumpiyansa, nakikiusap po kami. Huwag ho tayong maging kumpiyansa,” said Go.

“Bilang Committee Chair on Health sa Senado, please lang po, ‘Pag bakunado, mas protektado!,” he reiterated.