OCTA Says 98% of Fully Vaccinated Filipinos Did Not Contract COVID-19

OCTA Research has reported that 98% of Filipinos who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 did not contract the virus. The Independent pandemic monitor published the results of their Tugon ng Masa survey that was conducted from December 7-12, 2021. Despite being fully vaccinated against coronavirus, 2% still tested positive for it.

Fully vaccinated Filipinos increasing

Forty-seven percent (47%) of those who tested positive for COVID-19 used both antigen and RT-PCR tests as diagnostic test. Twenty-eight (28%) percent used an antigen test only. Four percent (4%) used an RT-PCR test only. Twenty percent (20%) of the respondents who said they contracted COVID-19 did not use any diagnostic tests.

Seventy-four (74%) percent of respondents responded that they had received their COVID-19 vaccines. Fifty-one (51%) percent were fully vaccinated while 23% had only gotten their first shot. The highest percentage of adults contracting COVID-19 after full vaccination is Luzon at 3%. Mindanao and the National Capital Region were at 2% and 1%, respectively.

The improved number of fully vaccinated Filipinos is encouraging as the pandemic enters its second year in March.

Over 122 million vaccines administered in PH

The Philippines has administered 122,889,494 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines nationwide. Almost 60 million Filipinos have already gotten two vaccine shots to have better protection against the virus according to the data reported on January 22.

Data from the national COVID-19 vaccination dashboard showed 59,716,484 individuals have received at least their first shot. Individuals numbering 6,077,315 have gotten a booster or additional doses.

The government joined private pharmaceutical stores and clinics recently to launch the “Resbakuna sa Botika” program. This program aims to encourage more fully vaccinated Filipino to avail of their booster shots.

Perceptions in 2021

Compared to what the situation was last year, this is already a marked improvement.  only three out of 10 Filipinos were willing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus according to a Social Weather Stations survey published in May 2021. Only 32% of adult Filipinos welcomed the idea of vaccination according to the survey conducted from April 28 to May 2, 2021.

The top reason cited for those unwilling to get vaccinated was fear of side effects. Thirty-three (33%) percent of adult Filipinos surveyed then were unwilling, while 35% were uncertain.

Respondents were asked, “How much or little is your confidence that the government vaccine experts are thoroughly evaluating the vaccines to be used in the Philippines against Covid-19?” Fifty-one (51%) percent of adults replied that they were confident while 31% were uncertain. Seventeen (17%) percent were not confident.

Further improvement in vaccine willingness

OCTA Research also reported that the vaccine hesitancy dropped nationwide after 5% of respondents said they are not willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This marks another significant decline from the 22% vaccine hesitancy during their survey conducted during the third quarter of 2021 from September 11 to 16.

The OCTA Research survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews with a sample size of 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above. It utilized a sampling design that allows for a 95% level of confidence with a margin of error of ±3%.

There have been 3,475,293 COVID-19 cases in the Philippines as of January 27, 2022. The recoveries have reached 3,191,219 with 53,664 deaths.

These results do not reflect the surge in cases brought on by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Reports of the first examples of the Omicron variant entering the country began in early 2022. The highly contagious Omicron variant is credited for the surge in cases over the past few weeks.

Key takeaways

New numbers released by OCTA Research bodes well for the Philippines’ battle against COVID-19. The independent pandemic monitor pointed out that 98% of fully vaccinated Filipinos have not contracted the virus. The survey was conducted in December 2021 and marks improvements in attitudes toward getting vaccinated in the country. Numbers may be improving as far as vaccinations but these have not yet considered the Omicron surge that the world has experienced in recent weeks.

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