The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the start of Covid-19 booster drive for senior citizens and the recent announcement from the Department of Health (DOH) on the eligibility of immunocompromised individuals and the elderly to choose their own authorized vaccine brand as the additional dose.

Third or additional doses are crucial during this time particularly for high-risk individuals as more variations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerge. Elderly people, immunocompromised individuals, and health care workers are expected to have the highest level of hospitalization and deaths due to Covid-19. Thus, the action of DOH to place these groups for priority vaccination is a positive step in ensuring that they have ample protection against Covid-19.

Similarly, the recent news on the Food and Drug Administration’s issuance of emergency use authorization for the use of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 patients is a welcome development in preventing Covid-19 deaths. Monoclonal antibody treatments have been shown in some research to be 70 percent effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death in Covid-19 patients. We hope that that the Health Technology Assessment Council would release soon its own findings and recommendations on the use of the said medicine. This will pave the way for government action in its immediate procurement.

With the decline in Covid-19 cases and the relaxation of restrictions in most areas in the country, we continue to urge everyone to exercise caution. Recent statistics from the DOH show that 93.49 percent of Covid-19 deaths come from the group of unvaccinated individuals. They are not only at a higher risk of dying, but also continue to be a health challenge and may slow the process to recovery. As such, CHR continues to call for vaccine for all; for stronger information drive on vaccine; and, urges everyone to get inoculated. We can all do our part to ensure steady progress towards recovery.