Decrease in COVID-19 deaths after vaccination roll-out in Baguio

27 August 2021 – The City Health Services Office reported a 68% decrease in fatality rate among the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases after the roll-out of vaccination particularly to the identified high-risk sectors.

City Epidemiologist Donnabel Panes said Baguio City recorded 335 total deaths out of the 16,993 total COVID-19 cases as of August 26, 2021 equivalent to a 1.97 fatality rate. Of the total cases, 94.10 percent, or 15,990 have recovered from the virus.

April 2020 is considered the month with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Baguio with 87 – the same period when the presence of Alpha and Beta variants of concern was detected, Panes explained.

“We consider April as our benchmark when it comes to the worst-case scenario since we had the highest COVID-19 cases and deaths at that time but now with the vaccination roll-out we have lowered our fatality rate by 68% and majority of these deaths are unvaccinated individuals belonging to the elderly and those with comorbidities,” Panes said.

COVID-19 deaths were down to 22 for the month of August. Panes explained that those dying of COVID-19 were not random people but those belonging to the high-risk population particularly the senior citizens.

Based on CHSO data, the fatality rate among elderlies infected with COVID-19 is highest among those aged 80 to 89 years old at 28 percent; 70 to 79 years old at 25 percent; while those aged 90 years old and above at 22 percent.

“The chances of dying when infected with COVID-19 is very high among our elderlies that is why we want to reach them for vaccination to protect them from severe symptoms that may compromise their overall health condition,” Panes explained.

As of August 26, 2021 there are 133,367 individuals inoculated with the first dose and 93,294 fully immunized persons among the priority sectors from A1 to A5.

Of the 32,420 registered senior citizens at the bakuna.baguio.gov.ph website, 80.1 percent of 25,975 were fully vaccinated; 8.5 percent or 2,768 had their first dose while 11.3 percent or 3,677 remains unvaccinated.

The CHSO has administered a total of 226,661 doses since the roll-out of vaccination in March. The city recorded its highest number of vaccinees in a single day on August 25 with 7,528 mostly among the sectors A4 – essential workers and A5 – indigent population. – Jessa Samidan